International
"Building a Stronger Foundation, Creating a Better World"
L.C.I.F., the official charitable Foundation of Lions Clubs International, brings help, hope and healing to the world. Grant funding is awarded to Lions districts worldwide for large-scale humanitarian projects that address community needs. The Foundation's mission is to support the efforts of Lions clubs worldwide in serving their local communities and the world community as they carry out essential humanitarian service projects. Through LCIF, Lions tackle global problems such as blindness and hearing loss and respond to major catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods. But LCIF also helps Lions serve their local communities by partnering with them to build schools, health clinics and vocational training centers for the disabled.
LCIF helps people to lead healthier and more productive lives, nurtures the potential of youth, promotes health, serves the elderly, empowers the disabled and helps victims of disasters.
LIONS & THE UNITED NATIONS
The relationship between Lions Clubs International and the UN began after the end of World War II. In San Francisco, California, USA, on October 24, 1945 (forever known as UN Day), U.S. President Harry S. Truman joined Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other world leaders in signing the UN charter.
In the same year, Lions founder Melvin Jones and Past International Presidents Fred W. Smith and D.A. Skeen were asked to help develop the non-governmental organization (NGO) charter for the new global organization. At the time, Lions International was already an established worldwide service organization.
During the ensuing years, the two organizations have cooperated on many humanitarian ventures. Lions have provided aid and manpower for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), WHO (World Health Organization), and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) projects.
From the beginning, the relationship between Lions Clubs International and the UN has been limited to humanitarian endeavours. In keeping with its stated Objects, Lions Clubs International has no involvement in the political or security affairs of the UN.
In March 2009 members of Crofton Lions Club attended a special "Lions Day withe the United Nations" at the Palace of Westminster. Principal Speakers were the International President, Al Brandel, and Mr Martin Bell, the War Correspondent, Writer and former Member of Parliament.
EDUKIT PROJECT "EduKit" or, as it is often described, the "School in a Box" is a partnership project between Lions and UNICEF. Often used in disaster areas in order to try to bring some normality back into the lives of children following a traumatic experience. The box contains sufficient materials and equipment to serve a teacher and twenty children.
Over one billion people do not have access to safe water, roughly one sixth of the world's population. Water related diseases kill nearly 5000 children every day! Lions Clubs have a partnership with WATER AID and we share their vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Water Aid provides Water Wells to remote, and often small, villages in Africa and India. Since its formation more than 8 million people have gained access to safe drinking water in Africa and Asia.
Another organisation working in this field is Play Pumps International whose equipment, powered by children playing on a simple Roundabout, can serve the needs of communities up to 2500. The children in our local schools wanted to buy a Play Pump and asked Crofton Lions to help them achieve that goal.
PLAY PUMPS
On 19th July 2009 we took Infant and Junior school children with their families on our first sponsored "Water Walk".
The idea was to raise sufficient money to provide equipment called Play Pumps for a number of third world villages.
(Go to our Events Page and click on 'Water Walk' )
The route took the participants on a 6 mile walk around the perimeter of the Crofton Ward. All walkers were carrying a plastic container. At the 3 mile mark they collected water and carried it for the second half of the walk. It was then be put into a specially marked barrel to see if they had collected enough for their daily needs. In each case the amount was woefully short! If they had been truly relying on what was collected they would be faced with the prospect of making several more trips even though they were already very tired. A valuable lesson was learned about the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves!
