Early sunsets are common during the winter months in the Pacific Northwest but the loss of sunshine doesn’t deter children from completing schoolwork or reading a bedtime story. That isn’t the case everywhere and one local teenager wanted to do something about it.
Sammie Brady, 17, a junior at Tahoma High School, learned about a non-profit that is creating a brighter future for children suffering from energy poverty. Nearly 10% of the world’s population have little to no access to energy. Australian-based Solar Buddy provides portable LED solar lights to children allowing them to study 78% longer improving their education. The lights increase overall health, shielding children form exposure to toxic and dangerous fumes. They also improve the family’s financial security allowing money that would have gone to purchase kerosene to be spent elsewhere.
With an upcoming conference planned for youth from her church, Brady thought this would be a fantastic service project to incorporate. “Since our theme is “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ”, we could easily tie ‘Ye are the light of the world’ (Matthew 5:14) to this activity as we are literally bringing light to people, but the spiritual meaning is very real too,” Brady said. Together with her parents and youth leaders they found a way to make it happen.
180 Maple Valley teens are expected at the conference at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (26800 236th Pl SE, Maple Valley). Among the many activities planned for that weekend, a highlight is sure to be putting together 500 Junior Buddy light kits on Saturday June 15th. Along with the light kits the teens will write a letter to each child receiving a light. “I think it’s a really unique experience for the youth to serve in a way that they haven’t served before. We have so many privileges here in Maple Valley that we sometimes take for granted,” Brady said. It isn’t known yet where these kits are headed but previous areas served include Australia, India, Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.
