The initiative was founded by Maryam Naleemudeen, a woman whose journey from rural Sri Lanka to international platforms was made possible through education, determination, and empowerment. Having witnessed firsthand the struggles, limited resources, and barriers faced by many children and women in rural areas, she remains deeply committed to creating opportunities for others to rise.

In many parts of rural Sri Lanka, children dream of education while women strive for independence, yet poverty, limited access to resources, and lack of opportunities continue to hold them back. Light for Learning was created to address these challenges by opening doors to education and empowering women to achieve economic independence with dignity.

Through education initiatives and women’s empowerment programs, we work to remove barriers that prevent children from accessing learning and women from building stable livelihoods. Our focus is on creating practical, sustainable pathways — supporting education, developing skills, and providing the tools and opportunities needed for individuals to build confident and independent futures.

At its heart, Light for Learning is driven by a simple belief: when a child gains access to education and a woman gains economic independence, families grow stronger, communities become more resilient, and future generations are given the chance to thrive.