Cannon Lions Club news

SightFirst in Madagascar

The Lions SightFirst Madagascar Eye Center is treating a wide range of vision problems. From providing cataract surgery for 84-year-old Suzane to screening the vision of eight-year-old Florine and providing her with eyeglasses, this center reaches those who might not otherwise receive help.

"When we see the smiles of the people we help, it goes straight to your heart.

No riches in the world can buy the feeling of happiness that comes from helping others," says Anja Ramilison, a member of the Antananarivo Santatra New Century Lions Club.

Family Health Forums Benefit Special Olympic Athletes

When families come together to participate in a Special Olympics event, they come to celebrate their athletes. For more than 12 years, Lions Clubs International Foundation has partnered with Special Olympics through the Opening Eyes program to provide vision screenings and glasses for athletes at these events. Now, as a recent initiative of LCIF and Special Olympics, Family Health Forums help to further create a sense of community among participants. At these events, families are shown how to improve living conditions for athletes and provide better access to health care, education, social services and inclusion.

Family Health Forums began in 2011 in select communities in Africa. In October 2012, South Africa hosted the first ever Regional Family Health Forum, which brought together families with Special Olympic athletes from five countries in Africa. Here is what some of the parents had to say:

"It was excellent for me as a mother who has a child with intellectual disability. I have learned a lot, especially sharing problems with other mothers in different places. Thanks for giving my child this opportunity," said one parent in response to the forum.

"It's a way of changing the lives of people with intellectual disability and it makes us aware that nothing is impossible with people who have intellectual disability," said another parent at the event.

WE SERVE

Nathan Sanders

President Woodbury Lions Club