What am I Doing to Help?

I watched Invisible Children again recently. Every time I watch these stories I feel so compelled to do something more with my life. I feel as though I'm not doing enough, there's always something more I could do. Those of you who may not know what this is all about, well...let me tell you:

In the spring of 2003, University of Southern California film school graduates Jason Russell and Bobby Bailey, and their friend Laren Poole, traveled to Africa intending to film the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. They found themselves in the northern part of Uganda, witnessing the horrors of a 20 year rebellion in which most of the combatants, an estimated 80% to 90%, are children.

They discovered that children as young as eight were being kidnapped nightly from their homes by a rebel group called the Lord's Resistance Army. To avoid capture, the children would wake themselves in the middle of the night, while it was very dark and travel for miles to evade the rebels. The children who are abducted are desensitized to the horror of violence and killing as they themselves are turned into vicious killers. Some escape and hide in constant fear; most remain captive and group into adulthood with no education other than life in the bush and fighting in a guerrilla war.

"Invisible Children" highlights what the community refers to as "night commuters," the thousands of children who migrate out of fear from the villages to nearby towns each night to avoid the LRA abductions. They sleep in public places, vulnerable and without supervision, and in a constant state of fear.

The interesting thing is, Jason, Bobby, and Laren had no idea their rough documentary would make it into the public eye, let alone make such a large impact on the community. They first screened "Invisible Children" in 2004 for friends and family and soon expanded to high schools, colleges, and organizations. The film has sparked a movement to bring assistance to the children of northern Uganda.

In September 2004, the filmmakers formed a nonprofit organization called Invisible Children, Inc. to coordinate the efforts of those who want to help. The organization has started an education program and a bracelet campaign that provides employment to Ugandans and helps fund the education program.

There is a website you can go to to learn more about this organization and be apart of the bracelet campaign. With each bracelet, there is a story of a different child. And all the money goes to aid this movement. I encourage you to be apart of it too: www.invisiblechildren.com

I have 3 bracelets already. Wear them...and remember.