LIONS – QUEST PROGRAM IN TANZANIA GATHERS MOMENTUM SAYS PMCC/PDG LION MAJID KHAN

MY DEAR FELLOW LIONS,

May I have the pleasure of imparting some information to our esteemed members pertaining Lions Quest – Program which is an on – going, value – based, long range program of Lions clubs International Foundation which is also being implemented in Tanzania.

It takes care of the development of the entire personality of a child, Results have shown that the changes we seek are permanent and encompass the whole family, community and the schools.

The Lions Quest “Skills for Adolescence” program mostly emphasize on youth to grow into Good citizen when they learn how to make responsible decisions, communicate effectively and live a Healthy – Drug & Alcohol free life.

At this point in time, there is tremendous amount of anxiety amongst the parents in this modern and complex world, who most of the time are busy with their daily work, while we anticipate “Peace and harmony”. There are some disturbing factors as well. The younger class of our population, especially the juveniles and the youths, are facing paradoxical situation. Increasing risks on Drug abuse, alcoholism, violence, dangerous habits like Bhang smoking, tobacco chewing, sniffing brown sugar and petroleum products and misuse of several other harmful agents. These habits if unchecked may cause havoc and devastation in the family as well as society they live in. These habits demand to be discouraged and put a complete stop to it.

In order to implement this program effectively, To-date with LCIF Grant we have managed to conduct (5) five successful Quest – workshops in Tanzania.

Namely:-

Dar-es-Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro and Mwanza.

These workshops were conducted by a professional senior Quest Trainer Mrs. Ratna Choudhary from India. To-date 160 Teachers from 80 primary and secondary schools including 6 lion members from Dar-es-Salaam and Mwanza have been trained to implement this program in schools and community.

It is our firm belief that these teachers & Lions who have been trained will implement the directives given by the trainers in their respective schools and communities. The Lions clubs of the respective areas where these quest – workshops were conducted are obliged to monitor and make a follow up of this training and are requested to send the report of their findings to the District Convenor – Quest Lion Mohamed Mulla District Chairman – Lion Kiran Mody and under signed on a regular basis.

I also feel proud to mention that during the course of this training. Two teachers (Lion Alex Mathew and Mr. Christopher Chiyana) from Dar-es-Salaam had an opportunity to be trained as Trainers for the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence. These two trainers who have been successfully trained by senior trainer Mrs. Ratna Choudhary will train the teachers in our country without the presence of trainers from outside in future.

This being a valuable and important subject, our ultimate Aim and Object is to train as many teachers / Lions as possible in all the Regions of Tanzania, provided we get financial support from LCIF and the District to leverage additional funding from charitable Benefactors, Business entrepreneurs and well wishers to help share cost of purchasing Lions – Quest Text Books and help subsidize cost of Teachers Training Workshops.

Our children are the leaders of Tomorrow, and it is our cardinal duty to guide and teach them the skills which can help them to avoid peer pressure, negative influences including Drugs & Alcohol.

We would like to promote and consolidate this essential program in our country. Therefore it is pertinent and we have requested the Ministry of Education for the consideration of this project by having the assurance from Ministry of Education’s interest in receptivity and commitment to Lions Quest programme and their applicability in local schools systems.

Last but not the least, I would like to emphasis that the success of Lions Quest in our District can be achieved by each club President having Lions Quest in their club programs and fully support the program.

Finally I would like to thank sincerely our District Governor Satish Sharma, PCC Safder Jaffer, 2^nd VDG Wilson Ndesanjo, District Convenor Mohamed Mulla, District Chairperson Kiran Mody, and the esteemed members of the Quest – Steering Committee.

 Lions:- Haider Gangji, Habil Khanbhai, Shofiudin Babul, Zahira Patwa, Sayed Abdul Hai, Inderjeet Rehal, Alex Mathew, Christopher Chiyana for their unflinching support, understanding and magnanimous cooperation exhibited in making this program most successful in Tanzania.

With kind regards,

                                                       

LION ABDUL MAJEED KHAN

PDG / PMCC – M. D. 411

GMT – DIST. COORDINATOR - DIST. 411B

CHAIRMAN – QUEST STEERING COMMITTEE