By: Karissa Harrison

A child goes missing in the United States. The police are notified and they issue an Amber Alert.  Radio stations begin broadcasting descriptions, while TV stations flash pictures of both the abductor and abducted across the screen. Billboards along major roads show related information regarding the abduction. The police move out in force with helicopters and planes. Everything is put into operation to bring a child home to its family.  At the same time, they go after the abductor to put him behind bars, so she or he cannot harm any other child.

In another part of the world over 30,000 children have been abducted in the past 25 years. Many northern Ugandan families have lost a child through abduction, or their village has been attacked and destroyed by an army made up of abducted children, known as the Lord’s Resistance Army.

In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure, transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims, a tragedy that was the Lord’s Resistance Army.         

After returning to the States, a documentary was created “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a film that exposes the tragic reality of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers.

The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, “How can I help?” To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.

A woman named Alice Lakwena created the LRA rebel movement. In the 1980s, Lakwena believed the Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to overthrow the Ugandan government for being unjust to the Acholi, an ethnic group from northern Uganda. Lakwena and her followers, known as the Holy Spirit Movement, gained momentum as resentment toward the government increased. When Lakwena was exiled and no clear leader of the movement was left, Joseph Kony, who claimed to be Lakwena’s cousin, took control and transformed Lakwena’s movement into the LRA.

Kony’s LRA did not receive the same support as the Holy Spirit Movement from the Acholi people. With dwindling approval for their cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting children and making them soldiers. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were abducted as children.

In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks, by force the Ugandan government evicted thousands from their homes, and relocated them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection. Over a decade later, roughly one million individuals still live in these camps and struggle to survive among the effects of poverty, widespread disease, and starvation.

Invisible Children is a non-profit organization that works to transform apathy into activism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, Invisible Children hopes to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Their media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a movement that responds to what is happening in the world.

In war-affected regions Invisible Children focuses on long-term development, working directly with individuals and institutions that are eager to realize their full potential. Through education and innovative economic opportunities, they partner with affected communities and strive to improve the quality of life for individuals living in conflict and post-conflict regions. Invisible Children focuses on long-term goals that enable children to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country. Their programs are carefully researched and developed initiatives that address the need for quality education, mentorship’s, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability.

On April 1^st I was able to attend a presentation by Invisible Children. I was moved by what I learned. I was able to meet a man from northern Uganda who was affected by the war; fourteen members of his family had been killed by the LRA. After hearing his story and relating it to those I had met from volunteering in Uganda I knew I had to do more to help. I signed up for the 25 event. For the last 25 years, thousands of people in central Africa have been silenced by the LRA. So for 25 hours, thousands of participants around the world will go silent so that the victims of the LRA are heard. Money raised from the 25 event will fund The Invisible Children Protection Plan and bring life saving communication and rehabilitation projects to the victims of the LRA.

You can visit my fundraising page or start your own fundraising page by going to www.invisiblechildren.com/join25.