Service is a willing sacrifice with heartfelt sincerity.
Lions Clubs from across Johannesburg came together for a day of selfless interaction on May 13. The annual Lions Buddy Day allows high school learners to be paired with residents of organisations that care for the mentally and physically disabled. Once meeting their buddy, the learners guided their new friends through the various activities set up by the participating Lions clubs.
The project was initiated by Helderkruin Lions 17 years ago and the 2023 edition saw a doubling of attendees from 200 to 400.
“We look forward to this event every year. Our motto is ‘We serve’ and this is a perfect example of that. It gives everyone a chance to appreciate the struggles of others,” said Helderkruin Lions’ Karl Bands.
The day takes several months to put together and this year featured learners from Victory House, St Catherine’s Convent, Crawford Ruimsig, La Salle College, and Hyde Park High.
The activities arranged included Alberton Lions’ putt-putt course, The Wilds Lions’ game of Skittles, and Wilro Park Lions’ paint and crafts table, among many others. Weltevreden Park Lions took care of lunch with almost 500 hotdogs cooked for the pairs of buddies and hungry Lions. Before going home, each visitor grabbed an ice-cream come served up by Northcliff Lions.
Special Olympics South Africa was there to show support and eight care homes were present, including, Ann Harding Cheshire Home, The Gateway Village, and Avril Elizabeth Home.
A ‘Buddy of the Day’ prize was awarded on the day, with Nomalanga Khoza from Hyde Park High being acknowledged as being the most caring and attentive. Elaborating on the fondness held for the day, Karl said, “When we sent out the notification, we were inundated with replies. It is a great day out for everyone.”
