Ashburton College students attended the Lions Youth camp at Kaiteriteri earlier this year and it inspired the formation of a Leo Club at their school.
Year 12 student, Skylah Wilson-Brown, 16, was so impressed by the talk on Leo (leadership, experience and opportunity) Clubs at the camp, that she returned with the vision of starting one in Ashburton.
It all came to fruition last week.
On her return from her camp she had spoken at a Lions meeting and mentioned her intention.
She had to gather other members and then the paperwork was sent to Chicago, in the United States, for a charter to be issued.
Skylah, a volunteer at Princes Court, said she really liked to help others and what most excited her about starting a Leo Club was joining the big family of Lions.
With the guidance and support of Ashburton Pakeke Lions president Jim Young and Global Extension Leader and Past District Governor Christine Stewart, Skylah gathered friends and fellow students to form the first Leo Club in Ashburton.
Last Friday Skylah, as president, was presented with the charter during a school assembly.
She received the charter from Lions 202J District Governor Derek Wardell, Multi District Leo’s co-ordinator Wayne Paulin, District 202J Lions marketing and communication co-ordinator Janet Hadley, as well as Young and Stewart.
Founding members are: Skylah, Otis Scarlett, Nate Woods, Brayden Forrest, Ellenor Irimana, Leane Senekal, Chloe Graham, Cherish Moti, Macy Lewis-West, Latesha-Rose Baker and Cooper Moffat.
Skylah and her fellow Leo’s are now looking forward to planning projects and supporting the Lions with their projects.
‘‘It’s very exciting we now have a club and we just want to get going and do things,’’ Skylah said.
‘‘We are looking to have focus on environment issues in the district and helping create a great place to live, that is safe and environmentally friendly,’’ Skylah said.
Young said plans were now under way for a Leo Club to start at Ashburton Christian School.
‘‘We are hoping they will receive their charter in July,’’ Young said.
It was hoped young people would enjoy the opportunity and develop leadership skills to use in their communities in the future.
‘‘It is exciting to have the Leo Club as the young people will develop a presence in their school and community through service to the both these,’’ Young said.
The Pakeke Club is sponsoring the Leo’s and will mentor them.
Leo’s, as younger members of the Lions Club, were either school-based or communitybased and in two divisions; Alpha
– designed for 12 to 18-year-olds or Omega – for young adults aged between 18 and 30.
Leo’s are an integral part of the Lion’s family, with their own global network of over 7800 Leo Club’s in about 150 nations, involving more than 140,000 young people, who in 2020 took part in 30,000 programmes.
- – Any students at Ashburton College wanting to join the Leo Club can speak to any of the members of the club.
