Projects

Sight Programs:

In 1990, Lions established SightFirst, a US $143.5 million global initiative to fight major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. The unprecedented program joins Lions Volunteers with blindness prevention experts and organizations and governments.
SightFirst has:Provided more than 2.5 million cataract surgeries.Funded 82 eye clinics and hospitals that are completed or under construction.Improved eyes care in dozens of countries around the world.Currently, SightFirst is treating 8 million people a year to prevent river blindness.Lions clubs support other sight related activates.
Lions:Provide 600,00 free professional glaucoma screenings and make 25,000 corneal transplantspossible each year.Establish and support a majority of the world's eyes banks, hundreds of clinics, hospitalsand eye research centres worldwide.Collect more than four million pairs of unwanted glasses annually, for free distribution to those in need in developing countries.Offer screenings, eyeglasses and sports goggles to athletes through the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program.

Provide free quality eye care, Braillewriters, large print texts, white canes and guide dogs for thousands of people each year.

WaterAid:

WaterAid uses its experience, research and documented good practice to influence other international organisations and feed into wider development policies. In this way it generates waves of change far beyond the physical boundaries of its work.

WaterAid believes the key to poverty reduction and sustainable development, the purpose for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, is access to water and sanitation for all. Four out of 10 people are without adequate sanitation. This figure will rocket to half the world's population by 2025. In setting Millennium Development Goals for halving poverty by 2015, world governments have ignored setting sanitation targets.

WaterAid is engaged in advocacy: the process of bringing about change - in government policy, in attitudes, in power relations, or in the way organisations work. WaterAid's vision of universal access to water, sanitation and a hygienic environment requires change in all these areas.

You can visit the WaterAid website at http://www.wateraid.org.uk for more information.

International Youth Programs:

Second only to Lions Commitment to aiding the blind and visually impaired is their dedication to serving young people.

Youth Outreach:

Lions comprehensive program challenges young people to learn, achieve and serve. By focusing on volunteerism and substance abuse prevention, it steers young people away from harmful behaviours such as gang involvement, violence and substance abuse.

Leo Clubs:

Lions clubs in 139 countries sponsor 5,500 Leo clubs. the 140,000 Leo members, ages 12-28, perform community service activities and support a worldwide environment project.

International Youth Exchange:

Each year thousands of young people, ages 15-21, learn about other cultures while staying with Lions host families in countries around the world. Camps in 39 countries bring together many nations to enjoy educational, recreational and cultural activities.