Origin of Lions Quest
- 1975: Teenager Rick Little begins a personal “quest” to help young people develop life skills and strong character.
- He conducted a survey of 2,000+ high school students and consulted experienced teachers to understand youth concerns.
- His initiative, Quest International, grew rapidly as middle and elementary schools requested age-appropriate youth development programs.
- 1984: Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) awarded its first financial grant to Quest International to support program expansion.
- 2002: LCIF formally took ownership of Quest International and renamed it “Lions Quest” on September 30, 2002.
- Program has been periodically upgraded with the need assessment.
Global Impact of Lions Quest
- LCIF has awarded 360+ grants, totaling over USD 20 million, to expand or establish Lions Quest programs globally.
- The program is available in 40 languages and implemented in 105+ countries, making it one of the world’s leading SEL initiatives.
Lions Quest in India Foundation (LQIF)
Primary objective: To promote Life Skills and Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) programs for children, youth, and adults.
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- Supported by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and active Lion members across India.
India’s pioneering role
Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence was first implemented in India in 1991 — the first country in Asia to do so — and has since been introduced across multiple districts nationwide.Lions-quest
International Outreach
LQIF has supported neighbouring countries—Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya—through teacher training and program implementation assistance.
History of Lions Quest in India Foundation (LQIF)
- 1991: Through the efforts of 1st International Vice President Lion Rohit Mehta, the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence program was introduced in India.
- 1991: The pilot Teachers’ Training Workshop was conducted at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, supported by LCI and Lions Quest International.
- 1993: Lions Quest in India Foundation (LQIF) was established on on 11th November 1993 and registered as a non-profit organisation with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai.
Growth & Milestones
- LQIF strengthened its professional development framework and today has:
- 4 Senior Trainers & 9 Certified Trainers
- Training capacity in 6 languages: English, Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu & Bangla.
- 2014–15:
- Produced 26 episodes of Sapno Ki Dhara, a TV series on Lions Quest.
- Telecasted on Aastha Channel.
- Episodes now available on YouTube.
- 2014:
- Lion Rohit Mehta retired as Chairman of LQIF.
- Lion Shyam Malpani appointed as the new Chairman.
- Lion Rohit Mehta continued as Chairman Emeritus until September 2020.
- 2021–22:
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, LQIF developed EMEL (Empowering Mind Enriching Life), an SEL program for cultivating Social Emotional Learning for adults (18+ years)
- 2023–24:
- Launched 5th Edition Lions Quest Programs for Grades 1–8.
- 2024–25:
- Launched Rohit Mehta Lions Quest Week (25th August–1st September) to celebrate Lions Quest activities annually.
- Began translation of the 5th edition program into five regional languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu, and Bangla.
Reach & Impact
- Official licensee for Northern, Eastern, and Western India to promote and expand the Lions Quest program.
- Works with LCIF-certified trainers, ensuring high-quality training and continuous upgradation of trainers and program materials.
- Provides professional development for teachers and educators, who then implement SEL skills with children in schools and out-of-school settings.
- Lions Quest now impacts over 1 lakh children & Their families every year locally