Creating Inspired Leaders
You may see them at street corners, near traffic junctions or in quiet alleys: men and women whose intellectual disabilities have left them without shelter, sustenance, or safety. Ostracized by society and accustomed to indifference or hostility, they view strangers with understandable suspicion, and retreat from human contact and any acts of kindness.
In December 2022, a small Lions Club in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal didn’t just see this population existing on society’s margins, but decided to do something about it. Recognizing that many cannot advocate for themselves or navigate traditional support channels, Behala Buddha’s Smile Lions Club, District 322C1, decided to feed these people a full meal at least once a week.
The next concern was how to effectively fund this activity for an entire year without burdening the club. The Lions devised a sustainable solution. Rather than rely solely on club funds, each member volunteered to cook a full meal at their own home and personally deliver it to those in need, one Sunday per month. This rotating system ensures consistent weekly service across a seven-kilometer stretch from Behala-Taratala to Thakurpukur.
Building trust proved more challenging than preparing food. Initial encounters were met with fear, flight, and sometimes aggression. The first Sunday, only a handful of people accepted the meals, while the rest ran away, and a couple even threw stones at the Lions. The breakthrough came with persistence and patience. Members returned week after week to the same locations, offering food with gentle concern.
Today, two years later, about 26 or 27 individuals wait expectantly each Sunday for their weekly meal. Despite their cognitive challenges, they have learned to recognize and trust these Lions. The club navigates changing locations and circumstances, actively seeking out recipients who may have moved or disappeared.
What makes this initiative truly extraordinary is the way Behala Buddha’s Smile Lions Club has created a bridge to society’s most isolated members. While many hunger relief programs exist, few address this section of the populace, and even fewer provide the personal commitment that members of this club offer.