By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Ridgetown Independent News
Your loose pocket change could help with a Ridgetown woman’s campaign to help build a school for impoverished children in Uganda.
Sharon Elizabeth Ninaber is organizing a Change The World campaign for the month of February to help the Friends For Life organization build a new school in Busunju, about 45 minutes from the capital city of Kampala.
Ninaber has advocated for the children in Uganda since moving to Ridgetown in the fall of 2022.
“Ridgetown has been so welcoming. It’s amazing,” said Ninaber, a decorator and wedding organizer who moved to town at the recommendation of friends after she had to downsize and leave Guelph.
Last year, Ninaber raised funds at various local events as donations helped buy food and medical supplies for impoverished children in the African nation and assisted agencies in building two schools.
The first school, located in Kampala, is just about complete as she is now raising funds for the second school in Busunju, which officials hope to be completed this December.
Donor boxes for the Change the World campaign will be at Mitton’s Jewellers, Good Day Cafe, Br. 243 Legion and the Ridgetown Independent News office from Feb. 1-29.
She said when she lived in Guelph, she ran a Nickel a Brick campaign that raised funds for a different school in Uganda.
“I came across some coin rolling wrappers that reminded me of the Nickel A Brick in Guelph, and that got me thinking about doing something similar here,” she said. “I’m hoping people will donate loose change – nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies – whatever they can; every coin helps add up.”
She also welcomes anyone with a larger amount of coins – especially some that are already rolled – that can also be dropped off at the sites.
“When it’s over, I hope to get a small group together and have a coin-rolling party,” she said.
Ninaber said she is not a missionary but a hands-on advocate for the youth of Uganda.
She spent three months in the fall in Uganda, where she visits annually to assist agencies in providing a safe environment and education to the youth, many of whom are orphans and in vulnerable states.
Ninaber is willing to attend church or community meetings to talk about her benevolent activities or talk to anyone in arranging a fundraiser.
She can be reached at 226-343-1256, by email at sharon.ninaber@gmail.com or by message on her Facebook page at Sharon Elizabeth Ninaber.
