Fayez Ahmed's Blog: Leo Youth Camp 2014: Innovation

From February 13 to 16, 2014 I was attending Leo Youth Camp Innovation 2014. This youth camp of Leo District Council, Lions Clubs International 315 A1, held at Sheikh Hasina National Youth Centre, was a great opportunity for the young people to learn about leadership. This camp was full of opportunities for the youths to gather experience from staying closely with the Lions of this district. During the camp participants had participated in different competitions and the bests were awarded. The most attractive competition was finding out ‘Shoprotive’, the most intelligent young boy and ‘Bidhushi’, the most intelligent young girl. Both boys and girls participating in the camp had to participate in different competitive rounds and perform with their expertise to become ‘Shoprotive’ and ‘Bidhushi’. Participants also had to creative activities like preparing wall magazine of clubs and also participating in parliamentary debates, making projection on club activities, instant performance. Lions from the district came and shared their experience of Leoism and Lionism with the leo participants. Their speeches motivated the young Leos to be more social and work for the country. This was really an inspirational session for the young leo activists.

Leos are taking Leo Oath

Leos participating in parade

Those who are not familiar with Leo clubs must ask what this is and how it evolved in Bangladesh and what are the activities of Leos? Leo in full form is “Leadership. Experience. Opportunity”. According to the information from Lions Club International, more than 160,000 young people in 140 countries are proud to volunteer to serve their local communities and to call themselves Leos. Youth who join Alpha clubs (ages 12-18) have fun, make new friends and experience the rewards of serving others. Omega clubs (ages 18-30) help members further develop their leadership skills and prepare them for a lifetime of community involvement and contribution to society. Late Ln. Alhaj Abdul Jabbar Khan is the founder of Leoism in Bangladesh. He was a freedom fighter, first film maker and also a PDG. He organized leoism in Bangladesh in 1972. Leo club of Dhaka Kamalapur is the first leo club in Bangladesh. Throughout the world the young Leos are working to Making the World a Better Place for Children. They are collecting food and clothes for local street children, repairing playgrounds, implementing after-school tutoring programs, visiting children in hospitals, raising funds for immunization programs and many more activities. Besides their activities Leo clubs bring hope and laughter to needy children, especially on December 5, International Leo Day. In Bangladesh Leos also volunteering in different welfare activities of Lions Clubs Bangladesh. Most recently the “Ham-Rubela” campaign was volunteered by a huge number of Leos all over the country. Bangladesh Lions Federation (BLF) has ENT Clinic in BLF Hospital, Mother & Child Care Centre, BLF Education Fund, Physiotherapy Clinic, and Dental Clinic where Leos are volunteering in activities. Leoism is a very special platform for the young people to work for the community and under privileged people in the country.