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Lion’s Club seeks aid for youth program
The District 204 Lion’s Club is in the process of bringing its youth camp-out to the CNMI but, in the meantime, is seeking the help of government and private agencies to sponsor some of those who will be participating in the camp-out in Guam.
The service organization has hosted a youth camp-out in Guam for many years now to inspire the youth to overcome diversity barriers. The club wants to extend the program to the CNMI but funding has been a setback.
During the club’s annual health fair last Sunday, district governor Arturu Navarro explained that the camp-out in Guam also teaches the youth of the Lion’s clubs across the region to transition from Leos (junior youths) to Lion leaders.
“They learn a lot. They learn more about leadership traits…but it is only done in Guam. We have not done it here yet,” he said.
The camp-out is usually held once a year for three days.
According to Navarro, it has been a while now since the club planned to extend the camp-out to Saipan but funding has not permitted it.
“Financial constraints have been blocking the way,” he said.
Despite this, the youth of Saipan are welcome to join the conference in Guam, assured district 204 2009-governor Goring Duenas, who added that assistance from government or private agencies to help sponsor these youth would be highly appreciated.
“What we are doing here is inviting them [Saipan youth] to come over and if any businesses out here on Saipan would like to sponsor these youth to come over for that three day activity, we welcome that,” he said.
Duenas also said they hope that, one day, the Guam youth can visit Saipan for the youth camp-out.
“It would be like a cultural exchange program of youths working together …One thing that is really good about this program is that it breaks barrier. …We’d all come together as one,” he said.
Duenas said the club wants to make businesses aware that, although the Lion’s Club is a non-profit organization, they can partner up with other businesses that have the same intent as that they have, which is to meet the needs of the community.
