In 1984, Sathyamoorthy a bank manager in Sulur — a town on the outskirts of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu — and a few local leaders came together with a simple goal: to serve their community. Forty years later, Sulur Lions Club, District 3242C, has grown into a vibrant force for good — rooted in the same spirit of service, yet steadily expanding in its scale, scope, and the number of lives it uplifts.
The club began with 45 members, mostly agriculturists who had more time than money but an abundance of dedication. They met in a borrowed marriage hall and got to work. Within three years, the club had built its own modest meeting hall and was well on its way to making an impact. Among its most meaningful service activities in those early years were the eye screening camps conducted in partnership with Aravind Eye Hospital and Sankara Nethralaya. On average, about 150-200 free cataract surgeries were performed every year for the underprivileged, in and around Sulur.
In 1992, Sulur Lions Club marked another milestone with the inauguration of its Vocational Training Centre, constructed with the support of an LCIF grant of Rs. 11 lakhs. Over the years, in association with the Nanjappa Institute of Technology, the centre has equipped hundreds of young people with skills in tailoring, computer training, plumbing and other trades — opening doors to employment and financial independence.
What began as a training hall has grown into a 15,000 sq. ft. facility with an auditorium, a gymnasium and an indoor shuttle court. The shuttle court proved an unexpected catalyst for growth. When doctors, engineers, and Air Force officers started playing here regularly, the members invited them to join the Lions family. Unable to accommodate everyone, they helped form eight new Lions Clubs in Sulur—each thriving today.
Impacting Lives Through Permanent Projects
- Vocational Training Centre
- Sulur Lions Vision Centre
- Coimbatore Sulur Lions Dialysis Centre
- Sulur Lions Children’s Park
With assets worth over Rs. 10 crores, the club proposes to reach more people and change more lives with a medical centre, a sports centre, a physiotherapy facility for stroke patients, and a centralized kitchen to feed the hungry.
Perhaps most telling is this: the club has had 40 different presidents without repeating a single one, and nearly all remain active members. With a rare 100% retention record and a unique Lions Nagar where many of the 106 members reside, the club has nurtured a culture of belonging and service. Living in a neighbourhood they built together allows members to mobilize within minutes whenever the community needs them.
From eye camps to permanent institutions, Sulur Lions Club’s story shows what dedication and vision can build, one project at a time.
~ With inputs from:
PMCC C. Saji David