Invisible Children Made Visible

Invisible Children is probably one of the hardest working, most determined movement I've heard of in awhile. In the summer of 2003, Laren, Jason, and Bobby headed off to Africa for the trip of a lifetime, but they came back with that and so much more. Throughout the course of their trip, they learned of the longest running conflict on the continent of Africa: Joseph Kony and his child armies. This terror abducts African kids while they are sleeping, and subjects them to a life of violence and terror. After this realization, these 3 young men knew that their lives would be forever changed. So, they made a documentary, spread the word, asked for support, and thus, Invisible Children was born.

In Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Sudan, Koney abducts innocent kids, forcing them to fight with guns and murder other innocent people. IC documentaries talk to victims, and tell their stories as they recall having to witness the murders of their families, and being told that they would too be killed if they cried. One child even discusses having to drop a baby in a river to die because his mother wouldn't walk fast enough with Kony. These children should be running around playing with their friends, not running through the woods with guns and machetes. They are forever changed, and forever traumatized.

So, why are we just hearing about this now? The media deems it too graphic for television, and these African villages are so remote, with no cell phone service or reception. Invisible Children has worked relentlessly to spread the word through every type of media possible, as well as sending groups out in vans across the country to talk to ordinary kids like us, and let us know that we CAN make a difference, and this is our chance.

From personal experience, I think that Invisible Children is truly changing the world, one high school at a time. This is not an ordinary charity; in fact their website reads, "We're not in charity. We're into genuine compassion." These stories are stories that will stick with you, and have a genuine affect on your life. I find myself thinking about these kids and their families whenever I have a problem. Sometimes we need to see the misfortune that others go through to appreciate what we have, and that's exactly what Invisible Children does. These representatives do a phenomenal job of explaining the cause, asking for help, and letting you know what the benefits of your help will be. Helping in any way that you can will truly make a difference in somebody's life. One person can make a difference, and that one person can be you.

"You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others."