<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><b>Lion Roy Verghese</b></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of individuals and communities. In District 316B, our Lions Clubs have recognized the importance of empowering students and unemployed youth through confidence-building opportunities. With a focus on education, we partnered with the Impact Foundation to organize a two-day workshop aimed at enhancing the skills and confidence of students in smaller towns. This initiative has not only yielded immediate results but has also paved the way for impactful community projects, exemplifying our commitment to creating a lasting impact.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Boosting Confidence through Workshops:</div><div dir="ltr">The workshop, organized on a large scale, aimed to provide students with a platform to develop their confidence and communication skills. With an estimated cost of 6.50 lakhs, we were able to bring together 16 distinguished speakers from various industries to conduct sessions on diverse topics. Notable speakers included CBI Ex Joint Director Sri VV Lakshmi Narayana and renowned Indian Novelist Sri Yendamuri Veerendranath, who infused their messages with social and cultural aspects. The students showed great enthusiasm in learning techniques and methods that boosted their confidence and communication abilities.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Empowering Students Beyond the Workshop:</div><div dir="ltr">As organizers, witnessing the tangible results of the workshop within just two days filled us with satisfaction. Students displayed notable improvements in answering questions and introducing themselves. Inspired by the success of the workshop, the Lions Club Kakinada Elite decided to embark on a new project to benefit the community. The Raparthy High School approached our club seeking assistance in safeguarding the students' bicycles. Recognizing the need, we decided to build a shelter for the bicycles using the surplus funds raised during the IMPACT Program. With an estimated budget of 1.5 lakhs, our club members pooled in an additional 1.00 lakh to complete the project. The inauguration of the shelter by the District 316B Governor marked a significant moment for both the club and the grateful students.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The Power of Collaboration and Determination:</div><div dir="ltr">This story exemplifies the saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way!" Under the guidance of our District 316B leaders, we successfully coordinated, funded, communicated, managed logistics, and facilitated registrations for this impactful event. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and support of our club members, who consistently work towards success and creating a positive impact in our communities.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The efforts of Lions Clubs in District 316B to prioritize education and empower students have yielded remarkable results. Through the confidence-building workshop, students gained valuable skills and experienced personal growth. Furthermore, the surplus funds from the workshop were invested in a meaningful community project, providing a safe shelter for students' bicycles at Raparthy High School. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to serving our communities and making a lasting impact in the lives of individuals. With the support of our dedicated club members and visionary leaders, we will continue to strive for excellence and create positive change. We serve!</div></div>