The Cape Town Lions Club celebrated a year of growth, service, and community impact during the induction of president Paula Lang at Belmont Square in Rondebosch on Saturday, June 20.
Addressing members and guests, Lang reflected on the progress made during the past fiscal year, highlighting the club's efforts to rebuild and strengthen its position as the founding Lions club in Southern Africa.
“When I was inducted, I said it would take two years to strengthen our mother club and position it where it needs to be,” she said.
Lang reported that membership had grown from eight members at the start of the fiscal year to 15 members, marking a significant milestone in the club's rebuilding efforts.
“Our Cape Town club has had an amazing year, filled with loads of work, excitement, unique projects, many achievements, and some great results,” she said. “We are alive, and we are growing.”
She shared that over the past year, members visited 22 organisations, including hospitals, schools, and care homes, to better understand community needs and identify opportunities for support.
The club also focused on building partnerships with local organisations and completed projects aligned with Lions International's global causes, including mental health initiatives.
Looking ahead, Lang outlined plans to continue the club's growth and expand its reach into Cape Town's city centre communities.
The club aims to increase its membership to more than 20 members during the coming fiscal year, strengthen partnerships, pursue Public Benefit Organisation status, and launch a major fundraising initiative.
Preparations are also underway for the Cape Town Lions Club's 70th anniversary celebrations, which will take place in December 2027.
Reflecting on the club's service work, Lang said community projects remain at the heart of the organisation's mission.
“Every project that we do, no matter if it's a small project or a big project, I always walk away with some sense of goodness of the heart,” she said. “It has to come from the heart.”
Members praised Lang's leadership during the meeting, crediting her with helping to revitalise the club and drive membership growth over the past year.
The induction ceremony marked both a celebration of the club's achievements and the start of a new year of service to communities across Cape Town.
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