More of Light in Africa

Here is my promised follow-up on Light in Africa. I met with Mama Lynn in Wereweru village, Northern Tanzania, where LIA is located. I had set aside a morning for my visit with her. I ended up staying for lunch and departing late afternoon. How to describe Mama Lynn? She is tough—in Tanzania she would be described as mkali or "fierce"—energetic, driven, outspoken, and with unshakeable faith in the power of good (which for her is the same as a nondenominational God) and in her calling to help the young, the old, the unwell, the handicapped and the abused of Africa. As my hours passed with her I came to see that without this intense belief in her destiny (she claims receiving a vision) she wouldn't have been capable of leaving behind her life in England, and building Light in Africa.org into what it is today—four children's homes for orphans; medical and social worker teams which hold outreach clinics in the bush; the program of choice for 200 volunteers a year, usually 2^nd year medical students from British universities, among many other things. Because she is fearless, she strikes me as unstoppable. An indicator of her success must be that she has drawn the undesirable attention of those who resist change. By now she is a little famous, which she acknowledges sheepishly. She says she has to relate her "story" about six times a week.

Mama Lynn asks prospective volunteers to fundraise first. The sum of $1000 US per volunteer group is a typical donation. Volunteers then have the choice where their money goes. For instance, the British medical students usually replenish medical supplies for the clinics. There might be furniture, a toilet or a new building that LIA needs. The organization can work with volunteers on ideas for their fundraising.

Please be advised that volunteers to Tanzania are required to pay for an additional work visa in addition to their tourist visa, which is obtained after their arrival. LIA helps volunteers with these applications.

05-10-2007