Light 4 Learning illuminating the way
Canning residents raise money for special projects in Uganda
A group people in Canning, with unique abilities, is staying busy with a special mission.
Light 4 Learning Society raises money for community development projects in rural Uganda.
“Members of our group prefer to be known as ‘individuals with unique abilities’ and they absolutely are,” says Light 4 Learning founder
Judy Van Amerongen.
“We’re a small group and we don’t raise tremendous amounts of money, but we’re in our 16th year.”
With just 10 members, Light 4 Learning has been able to provide residents of the African nation
solar power equipment for primary and high schools, an inverter system for the Bugongi Health Centre, cooking stoves, sewing machines, medical equipment and malaria nets.
Light 4 Learning’s major fundraising initiative is producing and selling Christmas and all-occasion cards; and has also held yard sales, barbecues and bake sales. The group also sells original images by local artists including Doretta Groenendyk, Holly Carr and Alan Bateman.
Van Amerongen’s connection to Uganda began almost two decades ago when she was contacted by a member of the American Refugee Committee, through a mutual contact at Saint Mary’s University. She confirmed everything was factual and all references checked out. Van Amerongen took the idea of helping out to members of
her cooking group.
“It was an opportunity to connect with another culture,” she recalls. “We decided to go out in the community to raise funds for a solar system.”
The group evolved into Light 4 Learning, which in addition to helping Ugandans, offers many benefits to its members here at home, Van Amerongen points out.
“It’s about learning and being empowered,” she says. “They’re interacting with people as members of the community and learning to be good global citizens.”
In addition to the solar equipment and other supplies, Light 4 Learning has financially supported a young Ugandan man who had to travel a significant distance for surgery.
“It was a four-hour drive and he couldn’t take a bus because his leg was in a cast. So, we covered the cost for him and his mother to travel in a special taxi and stay in a hotel.”
While supporting communities in East Africa, Light 4 Learning has also been busy closer to home. The group recently donated 56 pairs of men’s gloves and 20 pairs of women’s gloves to Open Arms, which assists people throughout Kings and Annapolis counties.
The group also donated $250 to New Hope Wesleyan Church for its backpack program, which provides nutritious food items for children during off-school hours.
Van Amerongen is also a founding member of CAPRE, which was launched by four mothers who wanted their children to have opportunities for meaningful employment and full participation in community life. Her son Lee owns and operates Lee’s Shop in Canning, despite living with autism and frequent seizures. Lee’s Shop offers
both local and international products.
“I’m a big believer in full participation and integration for the people we are supporting,” Van Amerongen says.
When members of Light 4 Learning are out in the community raising money people often ask what church they belong to.
“We just say, ‘We don’t have any church affiliation; we’re just naturally kind,’” Amerongen says. “Our members are very proud of the work our group does. We’re very committed to supporting the people of Uganda.”