Develop an activity that fulfills the greatest need facing youth in your communty.

Ask a youth expert to help your club assess:

• the need for food, shelter, clothing
• the need for healthcare services
• the local crime rate
• vandalism / gang activity
• substance abuse
• the illiteracy rate
• school conditions
• public recreational facilities
• recreational programs
• the number of teen pregnancies
• the need for parenting classes
• the need for child care programs
• employment opportunities
• vocational training programs

Your Lions club can develop a youth activity in the area of: drug abuse prevention, community service, education, environment, health, international service, recreation, or service-learning.

Drug Abuse Prevention Service Suggestions

The Lions Drug Awareness Program features the Lions Quest life-skills curricula.

In 1983, the International Association of Lions Clubs approved the Lions Quest life-skills curriculum which emphasizes education and drug abuse prevention.

In 1993, The Mental Health Division of the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the Life Skills Education in Schools project. The project explains adaptive and positive behaviors such as decision-making, problem solving, creative thinking, effective communications, interpersonal relationship skills, self-awareness, the ability to empathize, managing emotions, and managing stress. Mastery of these skills helps develop a positive self-image. This process is necessary for young people to say "no" to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gangs, early sexual activity, etc.

The featured WHO life-skills programs includs: the Lions Quest Skills for Growing (ages five to 10) Skills for Adolescence (ages 11 to 13) and Skills for Action (ages 14 to 19) programs.

Your Lions club can sponsor the Lions Quest curricula in your local school(s). Your club can also conduct essay, poster, speech, and art contests to educate youth about drug abuse.

Community Service Suggestions
Youth group membership helps young people develop skills in cooperation, leadership, and independence.

Lions clubs sponsor Leo clubs for young people,ages 12 to 28. Leo clubs exist in 139 countries. Leo clubs operate under the guidance of a Lion advisor. Leo clubs provide young people with opportunities to perform community service.  

In addition to Leo clubs, your Lions club can support school-based youth groups, Scout troops, religion-based youth groups, and other local youth groups.

Citizenship is another community service activity for Lions. Your club can distribute national flags to students to increase their national pride.

Personal safety programs are another Lions Youth Outreach activity. Your Lions club can sponsor a Safety Town. This miniature town provides children with a "hands-on" opportunity to learn bicycle and automobile safety.

Other safety programs include: the placement of red label stickers on the windows of childrens' bedrooms in case of fire; fingerprinting programs, and bicycle and roller blade safety programs.

Or, your club can support a special needs program for youth with behavioral, emotional, intellectual, medical, or physical problems. One such program is the Special Olympics Opening Eyes - Lions Clubs International Program.

Education Service Suggestions
Your club can sponsor a variety of educational programs for young people. Examples of literacy programs include: arranging a peer tutoring program, a used book collection, storybook time, and pen-pal programs.

Educational culture projects for youth may include: storytelling, the reading of fables, art contests, musical presentations, dance troupes, puppet shows, live theater, folk dances, and folk songs.

Many Lions clubs provide educational scholarships. The monetary award can aid primary school, secondary school, or post-secondary school students. Scholarships can be awarded on the basis of merit or need.

Vocational programs provide young people with training in a marketable skill. Your Lions club can help young people become carpenters, food service handlers, automobile mechanics, nurse's aides, electricians, textile workers, tailors, or candle makers.  

Also, consider helping a young person by serving as a role model or mentor. Effective mentoring programs are those in which the adult: 1) makes a connection with the young person; 2) uses that connection to convey a message.

A public forum can provide your community with information about a particular youth topic. A one or two-day educational seminar can feature an expert who is knowledgeable on a youth subject.

Environment Service Suggestions
Your club can teach youth about caring for the planet earth. Begin by determining the most important environmental need(s) in your community. Then, mobilize youth.

Common environment projects include: recycling, litter clean-up, gardening, tree plantings, and activities to combat air, water, land, and noise pollution.

For more information, contact your district Environment chairman or access the Environment section of this Web site.  

Health Service Suggestions
Lions often provide assistance and information to young people concerning AIDS, immunizations, vitamin A distribution, vision screenings, hearing screenings, and diabetes screenings. To organize a health service, contact your ministry of health, local health department, university, hospital, or medical clinic.  

Violent behavior is another health concern. Your club can introduce the Lions Quest conflict-resolution unit for young people in your community.

International Service Suggestions
Encourage young people in your community to participate in the Lions international youth exchange or Lions international youth camp programs. Your club can sponsor youth for these programs.

Your Lions club can also help young people establish international pen pal and school twinning relationships. Contact a club in another country to make the necessary arrangments. Click here for the Lions Club Locator.

Your club can also arrange for a young person to travel to another country to receive necessary medical care. Contact a club in another country to arrange for the medical care. Click here for the Lions Club Locator.  

Recreation Service Suggestions
Consider building a playground, a teen center, donating sports equipment, or sponsoring an athletic team as a way of promoting recreational opportunities for youth.

In addition to sponsoring a local baseball, hockey, or soccer team, your club can organize a local or regional sports tournament. Provide an award for the winning team(s).

Service-learning Suggestions
Young people learn about community service through "hands-on" experience. This is known as service-learning.

Your Lions club can assist young people with the service-learning process by helping youth to assess, organize, implement, and evaluate a community service project.