LIONS International dedicated the Week August 8 – 14 as Worldwide Week of Service dedicated to mentoring, empowering and engaging youth through community service. This international event is designed to inspire the next generation of volunteers and help the Lions reach their Centennial Service Challenge goal of serving 100+ million people.
On August 13, the Lions and Leos of Castries joined the Piton Soufriere Lions in a youth mentoring activity. The activity was held in the village of Canaries where a group of 30 young individuals ranging from age nine – 15 were given an insight into volunteerism.
The sessions covered the importance of volunteering as well as the benefits to be derived both by individuals and the community. The members of the Leo Club shared the role that the Leo Club plays in volunteering in community as well as their experiences being in such an organization. The culmination of the session saw the participants being given a cup and a seed, the cup to be used to plant the seed and watch it germinate. Each participant was to bring the planted seed to the community nurse where they would monitor the progress. The germination of the seed is synonymous to the seed of volunteerism that was planted.
To culminate the week of service the Castries Lions used this opportunity to mentor Leos and engage them in a service activity. On Sunday, August 14 the Castries Leos and their prospective Leos joined with their parent club (Castries Lions) and treated the patients at the Mental Wellness Institution. This institution was chosen because it is one that is usually forgotten by the general public. The treat was sponsored by the Lions and the Leos who spent time serving and engaging the patients. It was a very rewarding activity and it is hoped that this engendered in our Leos the spirit of giving back to those less fortunate.
On Thursday, August 18, the Castries Lions presented two one-time bursaries to two needy students as part of the Roger Eudoxie Scholarship, an ongoing programme of the club which was renamed after a Past District Governor. The scholarship offers support to needy students to facilitate their study at one of the island’s secondary schools.
This year, because the programme is being reviewed by the Club, it was agreed that two students be offered a one-time bursary. The recipients of the bursaries will be attending the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (Form 3) and the Bocage Secondary School (Form 1).
The presentation was made by his widow Esther Eudoxie, who congratulated the students on the awards and implored them to continue to do their best to ensure that they succeed. The President Lion Lydia Elliott, reminded the students of the need to give of their best and to remember that the Lions were always available to provide support in time of need.
Last Sunday, the Castries Lions and Leos joined the other clubs in Zone 3B, Saint Lucia — (Vieux Fort Lions, Soufriere Piton Lions, Gros Islet Lions, Micoud Lions and the Hewanorra Plains Leo) to celebrate mass at the St Joseph the Worker Church Roman Catholic Church in Gros Islet. The service was to mark the commencement of the Lionistic year. The service was followed by a Brunch which allowed the Lions and Leos to fellowship in a cordial atmosphere.
We wish to express our gratitude to the many individuals, organizations and other groups who have contributed to our success thus far.