Lion Magazine
March 1, 2019

How Lions Celebrate

International President Yngvadottir strikes the pose that marks this years' International Women's Day theme–Balance For Better.

As part of the call to promote gender parity and increase the number of women in leadership positions, Lions Clubs International launched the New Voices Initiative, which is celebrating the contributions of outstanding women in its ranks.

On March 8, 2019, Lions will be joining the global conversation about gender parity on International Women’s Day. Here’s a look at how some clubs have celebrated in the past.

Empowering Women

Last year the Lions Club of Mattanur celebrated International Women’s Day by partnering with the Cannanore Obstetric and Gynaecological Society to host a series of programs aimed at empowering women through education, employment, and enterprise.

“Every woman should develop the self-confidence and belief to stand on her own feet by learning and earning,” says PDG Suchitra Sudhir, a New Voices Constitutional Area Speaker, and member of the Mattanur club.

In 2018, 450 women and girls attended the event at Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. (PRNSS) College in Kerala, India.

Effective public speaking classes, how to start cottage industries suitable for women, and teaching a trade were some of the programs offered. The Gynaecological Society gave a talk called “Save the Girl Child,” which focused on the importance of girls in society and how to prevent sexual abuse.

Lions promoted diabetes awareness and screened approximately 400 women—a whopping 20% of whom were found to be diabetic or prediabetic. Lions gave tips on how to prevent and control the condition. They then held a Zumba class to show that exercise could be a fun way to help combat high blood sugar.

“At first only a few ladies agreed to dance,” says PDG Sudhir. “They were given free t-shirts. Then as the catchy music started playing, all the 400-odd women donned the shirts and started doing the steps. It was a super success!”

The club plans to hold a Zumba session weekly to encourage women to keep exercising.

Supporting Pregnant Women and Girls

In Australia, the Nunawading Lions Club celebrated the 2018 International Women’s Day with a dinner fundraiser in support for the Babes Project, which assists pregnant women and girls who have no one else in their life to support them.

The night raised $3,000 AUD (US$2,140) for the Babes Project.

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

There’s no better time to celebrate the women in your club than International Women’s Day on March 8. Here are some great ways your club can get involved.

  1. Go to the New Voices website for resources to celebrate women Lions.
  2. Post a selfie on Facebook in support of women everywhere on March 8.
  3. Share a story of an incredible woman in your club on social media.

lionsclubs.org/NewVoices