Launching Lions Quest Educational Programme

Members of the head table from left: International Director Lion Mr. Mahesh Pasqual, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, Former International Director Lion Mr. Mahendra Amarasuriya

More than 30 years ago, Lions embraced the idea of comprehensive youth development to help children grow in a positive direction

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service organisation with over 1.4 million members in over 200 countries and geographic areas. Since 1917, Lions Clubs International has embraced the dream of its founder, Mr. Melvin Jones, and worked for the betterment of local communities and the world at large. Whether responding when disaster strikes, helping the differently abled face obstacles and challenges, or providing children with a safe and healthy learning environment, Lions Clubs International members are there to serve.

Lions have been the key to success and expansion of Lions Quest, supporting the programme through local funding, coordinating teacher training, co-hosting parent meetings, speaking to the youth, and undertaking joint service projects with students

More than 30 years ago, Lions embraced the idea of comprehensive youth development to help children grow in a positive direction, free from the dangers of drugs and violence and able to make positive decisions. Lions made a commitment to further development of the Lions Quest programme, and continue to support the programme financially with the participation of volunteer labour throughout the world.

In 1984, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) gave its first grant to Quest International to help further expand the programme. From that point, support of Quest became a key tenet of LCIF’s service to youth. For the next eighteen years, LCIF supported Quest at the organizational level through grants and technical collaborations, and at the local level through club involvement in community implementation of the programme in schools.

Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero addressing the gathering

LCIF took formal ownership of Lions Quest on 30th September 2002. To date, LCIF has awarded more than 360 grants for a cumulative total of more than $20 million to expand or establish Lions Quest Programs across the United States and around the world. Since that time, the programme has grown to include 40 languages in over 105 countries across the globe.

Lions have been the key to success and expansion of Lions Quest, supporting the programme through local funding, coordinating teacher training, co-hosting parent meetings, speaking to the youth, and undertaking joint service projects with students.

In Sri Lanka, Lions Clubs Districts B2 and A1 launched this highly acclaimed Lions Quest Programme on the 27th February 2008 as the 46th country in the world to implement it at schools under the guidance of the then International President Lion, Mr. Mahendra Amarasuriya. During these early years Lion Quest curriculum books in the English language were used in schools of Colombo.

In order to further develop this programme in the Western Province, Lions Clubs Multiple District 306-Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Department of Education - Western Province in 2012. This pilot programme was conducted by 31 trained teachers in 21 schools in the Colombo zone under the advice and support of the then International Director Lion, Mr. Sunil Watawala.

LCIF granted USD 81,617 to further expand the Lions Quest Programme in Sri Lanka on 15th August 2014 during Centennial Celebrations of Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs Multiple District 306-Sri Lanka again signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Department of Education- Western Province in 2016.
The Lions Quest Trust - Sri Lanka established in 2018 by the International Director, Mr. Mahesh Pasqual identified the need of translating Lions Quest curriculum books from English Language to local languages for better success in Sri Lanka. Accordingly Grade 6, 7 and 8 books were translated to Sinhala language while Tamil Language books were requested from India during this 3rd phase of the programme.

International Director Lion Mr. Mahesh Pasqual addressing the gathering

In 2019 three training programmes were conducted for 97 teachers from 54 selected schools from Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha Districts with the intention of commencing Grade 6 curriculum from 2020. In early 2020, Grade 6 books were distributed to more than 7800 students of these selected schools.

However, with the onset of the pandemic in Sri Lanka and subsequent closure of schools in 2020 the Lions Quest Programme came to a halt as teachers were compelled to focus on main subjects during online learning in the following months.

Understanding the value and timeliness of continuing Lions Quest Programme in Sri Lanka especially for adolescents during these turbulent times Lions joined with the popular Educational Channel Haritha TV to convert the Lions Quest curriculum to a series of television programmes and to broadcast to the nation island wide.
These television programmes will without doubt greatly benefit the youth, the future of Sri Lanka as the Lions Quest programme is designed to bring parents, educators, and community leaders together to teach children important life skills within a caring and consistent environment. This includes developing skills needed for self-discipline, responsibility, good judgement, conflict resolution, and the ability to get along with others.

As a curriculum-based programme, Lions Quest provides detailed lesson plans and classroom materials. All lessons are designed to complement the standard curriculum, offering a variety of ways to teach and reinforce social and academic skills. Research shows that students’ academic achievement increases with the implementation of a social and emotional 
learning curriculum.

Lions Quest also emphasises service-learning; students learn important leadership skills by organising and carrying out school and community service projects. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (USA), students who are involved in helping out in the community are happier at home, less likely to use alcohol or other drugs, and are more successful and committed to schooling.

We, the Lions of Sri Lanka hope that with the introduction of the Lions Quest Programme to our schools, we will be able to develop a strong and healthy youth population in our country.