Hva andre sier

An amazing lion and an amazing project for the future of the children!

My very good friend, lion PCC Bjørn Skovly, this spring and summer went by bycycle from Veitostrond Norway all the way to Uganda in Africa to collect money for his project, a new vocational school, and to raise awareness for the childrens’ needs! But he has done more -far more.

I have myself been in Africa on lions projects more than 30 times the last 20 years as leader of Lions Aid Norway. I have visited Bjørn’s projects in the slum and seen the impact. Read this mazing story.

The project Lions Club Luster started in 2015 with distributing mosquito nets to save children’s lives in Uganda has become something much more. Admittedly, they distributed 70,000 nets before it became a government scheme that helps everyone. But for Bjørn Kristian Skovly, much more had to happen. Ever since he first visited Uganda in 2010, he lost his heart for this country, and as chairman of lions council of governors of Norway, a little later, he again got to experience the country and all its needs.

The project he started to help the daughters of HIV-infected single mothers from the slums of Kampala now provides 1,000 children with education, food and health services as an alternative to a life without any future. In addition, the mothers receive medication, and they live more safely.

However, it did not stop there. Higher education is expensive in Uganda, and those who can afford it are happy to send their children to university and academic subjects. Unfortunately, too many end up unemployed afterwards. In contrast, there is a major shortage of skilled workers. That is why the project that Bjørn leads is now building a vocational school where, most of all, they want to give the young people with a background from the slums and poor areas a sustainable education that can help them and their family and clan. To carry out the project, they need to raise NOK 2.5 million.

Bjørn’s answer to getting attention around Lions and the project in Uganda was to cycle. Not just any small trip, but starting in Førde in western Norway and on to Kampala. The trip went through Europe to the southern tip of Italy, about 4,000 kilometers, before the final 1,600 kilometers in East Africa. It has now been implemented, and with NOK 1.5 million as a result, much of that contribution from lions clubs in Norway, but also along the route south.

Now Bjørn and two friends are on their way back to cycle home. After a trip through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, the journey continues from Morocco and through Europe back to Veitastrond in Luster in Sogn, where he lives. Then, and with the lecture tour he is planning for Lions Clubs in Norway, he will arrive home on October 1. Must secure the last million in support. He is so sure he can do it that the work to build has already started.

Bjørn is no youth – he turned 74 the day after he completed his cycling trip in front of Parliament in Kampala. He is still clear in his message, if we have the health to do so, there is no reason why age should stop us from realizing our dreams. His dream is that 200 students each year will be trained in Uganda, to their delight and because Uganda needs this knowledge. Now he sees the dream about to be realized. We as Lions must stay in service, and we must give of our time, our labor and our means to create a better world. In Lion’s ethical norm, we say that we must make an active effort to improve conditions in society and help those in need. – For me, it has become the most important thing as a pensioner, says Bjørn Kristian Skovly.

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I am proud to have friends like this. It makes me proud as a lion.

Svein Berntsen , endorsed candidate for 3rd VP.