Lions Quest Programme in Mwanza - By Lion Pushpa Shekar

Dear Lions, Greetings

I am very pleased to share the wonderful experience had in Lions-Quest Program recently organized in Mwanza from 12th to 14th May in Lake Primary School. The program was organized under supervision of District Chair Person for Lions Quest, Lion Kiran Mody and valentines joined him in planning, preparation and execution along with other club members.

‘Skills for Adolescence’ – one of the important curriculum out of three youth development program for students from kindergarten through grade 12 offered by Lions-Quest program. ‘Skills for Adolescence’ does focus on grades 6 to 8, i.e. ages 11 – 14.

Lions Quest programs are school and community based, youth development and prevention programs. They bring together the home, school and community to support healthy young people of strong character. The targeted audience could be educators, community leaders and parents of young children. However in this program 33 EDUCATORS (teachers) from different schools in the district and three lions, Lion Bhoomi Nanavati from Valentine club,  Lion Hiten Patel and Lion Alem Burhan Victoria club have participated. Other valentine members showed guest presence during three days and they have performed their assigned tasks timely before and after the program to make it successful.

Here is the brief overview of three days program:

A.   Day – 1 |  12th May, Saturday | Registration – Opening Ceremony - Training

§  The program was scheduled to start at 8.00 in the morning, registration followed by opening ceremony and then the training session.

§  Valentines took the responsibility of registering participants and were reached on time at the venue.

§  Then after opening ceremony was addressed by Lion Kiran Mody and Lion Abdulmajid Khan (PMCC/PDG – Chairperson Quest Steering Committee) in the presence of honorable chief guest Member of Parliament Mr.Wenje who gave short speech with positive remarks about this program and appreciated this effort of Lions Club to organize this program in Mwanza. He mentioned the burning issues the youth is facing currently and agreed that conducting such training sessions for educators would definitely help resolve some of those issues. Dignitaries Lion Mohamed Mulla (District Convenor Lions Quest), RC Lion Jasmina Mistry, ZC Lion Jagdish Mehta, Senior Lion, Lion Pravin Shah remained present to grace the opening ceremony.

§  By this time trainers and participants were ready to play their respective roles! Senior quest trainer Mrs. Ratna Choudhary began the training and later handed over to Mr. Mathew Alex and Mr. Christopher whom she was mentoring to become certified trainer of Lions Quest Program.

§  Though the day was closed at 5.00 in the evening some participants were busy finishing the given assignment which was to be presented on next day. Yes, trainers were able to generate very high interest in participants and involved them in the topic on the very first day.

B.   Day – 2 | 13th May, Sunday  |  Attendance – Training

§  Again on second day same time in the morning, valentines were ready to perform the duty and took the attendance of participants. The training started and continued as per the schedule till 5.00 in the evening.

§  Delicious food and snacks have been arranged for all three days as guided by Lion Kiran Mody.

C.   Day-3 |  14th May, Monday | Attendance – Training – Closing Ceremony – Certificate Distribution

§  Valentines performed their given roles on the last day also and training was completed with closing ceremony, feedbacks from participants and certificate distribution.  The very first day some of the educators were curious to know about LIONS – Who they are ? What they do ? Why this name ? How one can be a lion member ? and much more. Lion Abdulmajid Khan addressed all these questions in closing ceremony. Participants were very happy and satisfied by learning about lionism. He also praised valentines for being part of this program either way.

§  Some of the educators who have undergone the training program expressed that they will immediately start spreading a word about Lions-Quest through Internet and other media so that others can also find out the location of this program nearby them and get benefits of that.  And we really felt that it was worth conducting this training.

§  Senior Trainer Mrs. Ratna Choudhry appreciated participants for showing active involvement for all three days and encouraged them to implement the techniques and methods learned from this program in schools. She also gave the guidance on how they can deal with language constraint and how they can make use of this material immediately in their class without waiting for school management to completely adopt it. Her remarks were really important and motivational for educators who just completed the training. She has noticed the involvement and responses of all three lions members throughout the training and was very happy with that.

This report would not complete if I do not include the personal experience of our member lion valentine Bhoomi Nanavati who attended the training for all three days and received the certificate. Presenting her words:

“Let me thank the club president Lion Pushpa Shekar and District Chairperson for Lions Quest Program Lion Kiran Mody for giving me the opportunity to attend this training. The entire curriculum was very nicely described and presented in front of us by Senior Quest Trainer Mrs. Ratna Chaudhry, Trainer Lion Mathew Alex and Trainer Christopher. Content of materials is very well researched and provides ‘Ready to implement’ model for educators and for citizens like us who are connected with community services. It has broadened my thinking and I got motivated for really using these techniques within my family and friends wherever I meet young adolescence. I am now determined to flash the light towards those young adolescence who might not knowing how and where to use their energy and spare time in positive manner.

I feel very fortunate to meet Sr. Trainer Mrs. Ratna Chaudhry who is blessed with soft yet clear and firm voice. The way she spoke reached straight to the mind and heart. Her method of talking ‘to the point’ and quoting relevant examples wherever applicable saved lots of time and made the participants understood the essence of the subject ‘Skills for adolescence’ with ease.”

That described her three days experience in a nut-shell. Congratulations to Lion Bhoomi for successfully participating in this wonderful workshop.

Photographs are attached for your virtual tour to this wonderful program.

Thanks and regards,

Lion Pushpa Shekar

Club President

Lions Club of Mwanza Valentine