October - A month of service

Dr. M. F. Ismail

World Service Day

Each year a flurry of activity on one special day signifies a remarkable event - World Lions Service Day. On this day, hundreds of thousands of service projects are performed by Lions the world over. The idea of over 1.35 million men and women universally participating in service projects, on one day is tremendous. Every club, of which there are over 45,000 the world over, endeavours to render an act of service, either to an individual, a community or the world. For these Lions, World Service Day is an event to be heralded and remembered.

October 8 has been the day on which we all serve. On this day, we are all asked to give a little bit extra of ourselves for the comfort and happiness of many other less fortunate. This is a day of unselfish giving to the sick, the elderly, the disabled and to all others who need care and love.

It was on October 8, 1917 that the first convention of Lions was held in Dallas, Texas.

From a handful of men with good intentions, inspired by the founder Melvin Jones, Lions Clubs International has grown to be the world’s largest service organization with Lions living in over 200 countries. While the needs of humanity has not changed over the ninety odd years, what has changed is the number of people willing to give of their time and hearts to help meet the ever growing challenges of those in need. Today, there are over 1.35 million Lions the world over.

White Cane Day

Another significant day in October is White Cane Day. In 1925, the world-renowned advocate for the disabled, Helen Kellar, who was herself blind, addressed the Lions Convention and challenged the Lions to be the ‘Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness’. Since that day, sight conservation and working with the blind has been the major service activity of the Lions.

In 1930, a Lions Club member in the United States watched a man who was blind attempting to cross the street with a black cane that was barely visible to the motorists against a dark pavement.

The Lions decided to paint the cane white to make it more visible. President of the Peoria Ilinois Lions Club Lion George A Bonham created the white cane for blind individuals, which is now used as a mobility tool to get about and as a courtesy to others.

The first special White Cane Ordinance was passed in December 1930 in Peoria, Illinois granting blind pedestrians protection and the right of way while carrying a white cane.

In 1931, Lions Clubs International began a program promoting the use of white canes for people who are blind.

Since then distribution of white canes by Lions Clubs throughout the world takes place on White Cane Day. Today, the White Cane is considered as the symbol tool of independence and symbol of blindness.

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation that marked the climax of the campaign by the blind to gain endorsements of their rights as pedestrians. Congress by a joint resolution, which was approved on October 6, 1964 authorized the President to proclaim October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. On this day, Lions throughout the world not only carry out projects distributing white canes but also carry out many activities to help the blind.

World Sight Day

Yet another program that Lions Clubs International carries out in October is to observe World Annual Sight Day, encouraging the world to focus its attention on blindness. Commencing in 1998, Lions World Sight Day is held annually in the month of October.

It is a public education initiative to raise awareness that blindness continues to be a critical health concern in many areas of the world. According to the WHO, approximately 40 million people the world over are blind. Of even greater significance is the fact that this would double to 80 million in the next 25 years.

Lions have restored sight to 7.5 million people through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss for 30 million people and improved eye care series for hundreds of millions. Other projects carried out include.

* Awarded US$ 232.5 million for 956 projects in 100 countries

* Provided 131 million treatments for river blindness

* Built or expanded 300 eye hospitals/clinics/wards

* Upgraded 372 eye centres with equipment

* Provided management training for 115 faculties

* Trained 345,000 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye care workers and village health workers

* Launched the world’s first-ever initiative to combat childhood blindness in partnership with the World Health Organization. The 34 paediatric eye care centres established or strengthened have impacted the lives of 100 million children.

UN and Lions International

In 1945, the same year that United States President Harry Truman, Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other world leaders signed the United Nations Charter, the founder of Lions Clubs International Melvin Jones and Lion leaders Fred W. Smith and D.A. Skeen were requested to develop the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Charter for the United Nations.

Since this relationship was established, 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 purposes, Lions Clubs International has no involvement in the political or security affairs of the UN.

The international president annually appoints representatives to ECOSOC, WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO. The association also has a relationship with FAO.

During this month Lions Clubs throughout the world visit schools to educate the children and disseminate information about the UN and its activities. Exhibitions, Peace Poster contests and other competitions are also conducted.

World Children’s Day

October 1 is World Children’s Day. In 2003, Lions Clubs International adopted the Lions Services for children’s program to improve the lives of children and young adolescents in adverse circumstances through health and educational services, locally and internationally.

The author is a Senior Lion who is a Melvin Jones Fellow, a Past Council Chairman/Past District Governor, Trainer and Advisor to the Governor.