Africa, my favorite continent. I have wanted to go there since I was about 10. I love everything about it. The culture, the people, the spirit and hope just shining off of the kids faces. I even made a pact with my best friend that when we got older, we would adopt from Africa. Everything about this place makes me more interested. But what I am about to discuss shows why I love Africa so much and have a need to help it.
In the 1980's a guy by the name of Joseph Kony started the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who targeted the Ugandan government for their unfair treatment of the Alcholi (it was originally the Holy Spirit Movement run by Alice Lakwena, but she got exiled, so Kony took over). Kony, who couldn't get a following, turned to abducted children and teaching them to fight. After 23 years, over 20,000 children have been abducted. Some have been lucky and have been able to escape, but some have been not so lucky with escaping, or being apart of this war, and have either been beaten or shot, or worse.
Out of those 20,000 children, there have been some lucky ones who have been able to survive and escape the dangers of Kony and the LRA. Those children are called "Night commuters." During the day, they do their normal routines but at dusk, they pack up only what they need and can carry and they walk to a "safe location" to stay the night, so in the morning they can walk home and get on with their normal routine, yet again.
Imagine being in these kids shoes... or lack there of (some of them don't have shoes). This life isn't one that any of them asked for and that a lot of them were born in to.
In 2003, 3 USC students traveled to Africa looking for a story for a film. When they left, not only did they have a story, but a new hope and a new ambtion to help.
And helping is what they are doing. From 2003 to today, over 2 million people have seen the movie they have created. That video is called Invisible Children (if you haven't, check it out). These three guys, with the help of friends and family have created something way bigger than they ever imagined. They created the non-profit Invisible Children. With the help of many in the US as well as around the world, IC has helped many of the abducted, as well as the commuters. They have even gotten the US goverment, as well as other governments from around the world, to pledge to help the Ugandan government come to terms with the LRA. But of course, things go sour.
I read this article ( click here! ) the other day and my heart broke. These people deserve better and I am willing to try and make sure of that. So with this blog, I am educating you (whoever you may be) on this subject in hopes of you spreading this information.
Now I am not asking you to go buy Toms shoes (but seriously, check those shoes out. I got myself two pairs. So comfy!) or run to the White House and make sure Obama is doing something about this (read this article [ here! ], US has already done something!), I'm just asking you to get informed and maybe, just maybe, pass along the word.
Here are some places to check out (you can just click on the name):
Invisible Children
Resolve Uganda
Free the Children
I also suggest you watch this video-- Displace Me: The Aftermath
If you are like me and love to help out, here are some companies (non-profit and profit) helping:
Tom Shoes
BeadforLife
One Mango Tree
Take the Walk
Get informed and get involved. :)
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