"If you can't see children's tears, can you see anything at all?
If you can't hear children's cries, can you hear anything at all?
If you can't feel children's pain, can you feel anything at all?"
Past International Director Phil Nathan, MD 105
Lions Services for Children Seminar (Bangkok 2008)
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Millions of the world's children live with poverty and hunger, disabilities, chronic illnesses, lack of health care and education, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, child trafficking, abandonment and many other life-threatening conditions. |
In 2006 close to 9.7 million children died before their fifth birthday. Every day, approximately 26,000 children die around the world, mostly due to preventable causes.
United Nations Millennium Development Goals
The UN Millennium Declaration, signed in 2000, commits world leaders to combat major threats to the well-being and development of the world's children.
The Eight Millennium Development Goals, to be achieved by 2015, are to:
- eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
- achieve universal primary education;
- promote gender equality and empower women;
- reduce child mortality;
- improve maternal health;
- combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
- ensure environment sustainability;
- develop a global partnership for development.
Lions Services for Children Program
Lions have a long tradition of helping the world's future generations. They have constructed schools, children's hospitals, orphanages, youth centers and more. Other Lions have provided food, clothing, educational opportunities, medical equipment and supplies, and other critical services. Today, children need Lions more than ever. Be a part of fulfilling the mission of this program:
To improve the lives of children and young adolescents in adverse circumstances through health and education services, locallly and internationally.
Find out more about the Lions Services for Children Symposium Program, which can help Lions identify and address the needs of disadvantaged children and adolescents in their communities. Lions can complete the Community Needs Assessment to determine the types of services that would most benefit underprivileged children in their areas.
Resources
Lions Clubs International Foundation: Grants and Programs
World Health Organization (WHO)
UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
For More Information
Health and Children's Services
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842
E-mail: children@lionsclubs.org