The District 308B1 Malaysia during the fiscal year of 2010-2011 was concerned over the lack of public or governmental support to provide financial assistance to students from poor families who did not obtain outstanding results, but have just obtained average results in their SPM or STPM or its equivalent to further their studies. Realizing this lacuna, the District 308B1 Malaysia during the fiscal year of 2010-2011 under the then District Governor, Dato’ Yeow Wah Chin embarked on fund raising initiative district wide by selling the idea to Lions clubs, their members and the public at large embraced to establish an education foundation. Past International President Sid Scruggs who as the sitting International President had on 22nd February, 2011 launched the logo of the Foundation. This initiative was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and they donated generously and hence within six (6) months a sum of RM1,000,000-00 was raised. It was a dream comes true when the Lions Education Foundation was duly registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia in March, 2011 with its main objective to give financial assistance to those students from poor families who aspire to further their studies.
Today we, the Lions are proud because we have given hope and are able to make the difference in the lives of the poor students forever by helping them to turn their dream into a reality. As at this evening, we have given out financial assistance to seventy three (73) students who have benefitted through the Lions Education Assistance for the Needy (LEArN) Fund managed by Lions Education Foundation and a sum of RM1,100,000-00 has been approved for them. The Selection Committee of the LEArN Fund will scrutinize the applicants thoroughly regardless of race or religion, making sure that they are from poor families having financial difficulties to send their children to local institutions of higher learning. We strongly believe that poor students with at least average results deserve to be given the second chance to further their tertiary education so that they could earn a decent living, thus breaking the chain of vicious cycle of poverty. We would continue to strive to help and reach out to as many poor students as our fund could possibly stretch.
Amongst the degree courses currently pursued by the recipients are Bachelors of Laws, Bachelor of Accounting, Pharmacy, MBBS, Bachelor of Business Administration, Economics, Multimedia, Hotel Management, Finance, Engineering etc.
I strongly encourage clubs to come forward to help students from poor families by recommending and submitting their applications to the Foundation to enable the Selection Committee to screen through so that the really deserving cases will get the necessary help from us.
DATO’ YEOW WAH CHIN DSTM DIMP
Chairman
LIONS EDUCATION FOUNDATION