Lions Quest: Because young people around the world need skills for life

Lions Quest: Because young people around the world need skills for life

Building Youth in Your Community through Lions Quest Rebecca Daou and Matthew Kiefer Lions Clubs International Foundation

Agenda • What is Lions Quest? • Where is Lions Quest? • Why is Lions Quest needed? • How can Lions Quest be implemented? • Discussion

What is Lions Quest? • Youth • Service • Drug education • Skills for life • Community

Overview • More than 25 years experience • 12 million youth served • 60 countries – 20 more with potential • More than 500,000 educators trained • Translated into 30 languages • Hope for the Future

Advantages • A worldwide program • Gives hope for the future • Benefits are many – for youth, parents, school and community

Benefits • Develops positive social behavior like self- discipline, responsibility, good judgment and the ability to get along with others.

Benefits • Develops a commitment to families, schools, peers and community.

Benefits • Develops a commitment to leading healthy and drug free lives.

Where is Lions Quest?

Success Stories • CASEL (Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning) research has shown that social emotional learning (SEL) can improve academic performance by at least 11 percent. Lions Quest is a CASEL select SEL program – the highest rating awarded.

Success Stories • Norway • 30 life skills programs evaluated • Lions Quest one of only ten programs to have a documented effect in addressing the social and emotional needs of children.

Success Stories • Germany and Finland • A specific unit created to serve the needs of immigrant populations. • Lions Quest addresses the well-being of all children!

Success Stories • Belize • Lions Quest trainer - official employee of the Ministry of Education • Reduces cost of program implementation • Allows for more rapid expansion

Why Lions Quest – A Need Worldwide

Education • Less than 20% of students continue secondary school in many African countries • Asia has the highest dropout rate (UNESCO, 2004). Countries like India, Myanmar and Pakistan have dropout rates of 50% in the primary stage. • The UNESCO data shows that about 45% of the total global youth are not attending school.

A Solution for Youth: Lions Quest • A scientifically-devised, structured program that has answers to these situations facing youth. • Lions Quest fosters the development of self-disciplined and thoughtful students committed to family, friends, school and community.

What is Lions Quest? • Life skills program of Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) • For students from kindergarten to grade 12 • Classroom curriculum that may be integrated into existing courses or taught on its own • Unique collaborations of students and their families, schools and Lions

Programs Skills for Growing (SFG) Primary school Skills for Adolescence (SFA) Middle school Skills for Action (SFC) Secondary school

What does Lions Quest teach students? • Responsible decision-making, goal-setting & accountability • Positive interpersonal relationships • Resisting peer pressure • Community service

What about similar programs? • Only Lions Quest is: • Global • Comprehensive, not fragmented • Larger in scope than others • Covers a variety of topics

Funding Resources • Core 4 Grants from LCIF • Contributions from Lions • Support from Schools/Governments • Support from corporations and foundations

Next Steps: Leading Countries • Leading Countries will be trained to act as resources for new countries in the same region • Will assist new countries in starting the program • Will collaborate directly with LCIF staff • Possibility for annual region-wide meetings • Plans for meetings in East Africa, North Africa/Middle East, and West Africa

Next Steps: LCIF Support • LCIF staff are available to: • Orient Lions and their partners • Help with program assessment and next steps for new programs • Assist with pilot program • Support program expansion

LCIF Support • LCIF Grants: • Promotional: US$1,000 grants to support one or more promotional seminars for Lions, educators and community members interested in starting a Lions Quest program • Core 4: Maximum matching grant of US$100,000 pilot or expand Lions Quest in a new country

LCIF Support • Lions Quest Department • 300 W. 22nd Street Oak Brook, Illinois 60523, USA • Tel. +630-571-5466, ext.6965 • E-mail: info@lions-quest.org • Web site: www.lions-quest.org • Also available: • Promotional materials and DVDs • Sample Lions Quest teacher and student materials

Questions? • encourage membership

Lions Quest: Because young people around the world need skills for life

Day 2 How to Implement Lions Quest

Lions Quest How-To Kit • How-To Guide • International Overview • Resource DVD • Videos of Lions Quest around the world • Introduction to Lions Quest presentation • Request the kit from LCIF

How to start Lions Quest in local schools? • This presentation includes: • Six Steps for Success: The Implementation Process • Leading Countries • LCIF Support

Six Steps for Success • Step #1: Learn • Visit www.lions-quest.org to learn more • Contact LCIF to request additional information and sample materials • Review information and materials with local school officials • Work with LCIF to determine next steps

Lions Quest Web site

Six Steps for Success • Step #2: Endorse • Gather local experts to formally assess and endorse Lions Quest • Ensure the program addresses issues that are important to the community

Six Steps for Success • Step #3: Plan • Establish Lions Quest steering committee • Develop plan for pilot program and secure funding • Identify who needs to be involved

Six Steps for Success Schools Students Teachers Administrators Lions Quest Family Parents Siblings Friends Community Government Civic Groups Organizations

Six Steps for Success • Step #4: Test • Conduct the first pilot workshop • Evaluate the results of pilot implementation

Six Steps for Success • Step #5: Implement • Establish Lions Quest organization to support program expansion • Public Awareness • Teacher Training Workshops • Implementation in Schools • Understanding the Challenges • Evaluation

Public Awareness • Create awareness with Lions, schools and community through seminars/presentations • Include write-ups in District and MD bulletins • Distribute materials (i.e. brochures, DVDs, posters) • Use media to create awareness in society

Teacher Training Workshops • Explain the program to school administrators • Select a minimum of two teachers per school • Organize workshops for teachers • Trained educators must implement in school • Typically, workshops are 2-3 days in length

Trainer Availability • There are more than 100 Lions Quest trainers in 30 countries around the world • In the future, we endeavor to promote more trainers in every area of implementation

Six Steps for Success • Step #6: Sustain • Involve Lions with the Lions Quest program • Identify possible funding sources

Future of Lions Quest • For lasting impact, we need to involve local governments as well as groups of schools to work with Lions on a long term basis and see the change in environment.