The Lions Step In
“We decided to do something related to education to help the students with disabilities,” says Bruno Theoul of the St. Cloud-Garches-Vaucresson Lions Club. So they asked school administrators what Lions could do that would make a real difference in the education and lives of the students. The school said that Lions could provide important new technology that would make learning easier but that “it would be a little expensive,” says Armand Nedjib of the St. Cloud-Garches-Vaucresson Lions Club. The Lions raised money from their club, nearby clubs and the French Lions Clubs Foundation. Then they secured a matching grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) to set up a paperless classroom.
Everyone Wins
In the paperless classroom, every student has a computer as well as sophisticated devices that adapt to their abilities and skills. What teachers write on a special board is linked to the students’ computers so that they don’t have to take notes. Teachers can also record lessons so students can listen to them on headphones and read along on their computers. Students plug a flash drive into their computers and at the end of the day they download assignments and other class material to take home to use on their own computers. Since they also have their books available to use on their home computers, there are no heavy bags to lug around – an important change for youngsters in wheelchairs or using devices to help them walk.
Partnerships
The St. Cloud-Garches-Vaucresson Lions Club partnered with other clubs and both the French Lions Foundation and LCIF to maximize available resources.
