Since Spring 2008, we have been highly active with the non-profit organization Invisible Children. The story of this movement and its founders is testimony to the ideals that individuals can not only improve people's lives, but change policy within American government and ultimately bring peace to the horizon in a country that has only known war for over 2 decades.
The Story of Invisible Chidren
Short, sweet, and to the point.
In 2003, three California college students Bobby Bailey, Jason Russell, and Laren Poole went to East Africa in search of a story. Equipped with their newly purchased cameras off of eBay, they landed and eventually made their way to Gulu in Northern Uganda. There they found hundreds of children flocking to sleep in the streets. The children would walk miles from their homes so that would not be abducted by The Lord's Resistance Army by night. Bobby, Jason, and Laren began filming as they learned more and more about these invisible children. They came back to the United States and created a film which then sparked a movement. Youth all over the world now participate in Invisible Children projects such as competitions to rebuild schools in Uganda, hosting screenings to spread awareness, peace rallies, and even lobbying the U.S. government in support of recently passed legislation.
The Rescue of Joseph Kony's Child Soldiers
On April 25, 2009 a worldwide peace event took place to raise the profile regarding the atrocities committed by the LRA. In 100 cities across the globe, 100,000 people gathered and "abducted themselves" in representation of the child soldiers. In every city, the abducted marched to an "LRA Camp" where everyone wait to be "rescued" by three moguls: a celebrity figure, a political figure, and the media.
PSU's Ending Genocide Around the World participated in The Rescue in New York City. We met at one end of the Brooklyn Bridge, and with 3,000 other people tied ourselves together in a single file line and marched across. A park beneath the bridge was our abduction site, and after being abducted for approximately 5 hours, we were rescued.
Other cities waited hours, days, and up to a week until they were rescued. Chicago was the last city standing. Over 500 people remained abducted for a week. Out in the cold, hungry, dirty, and exhausted, they danced and chanted outside Harpo studios calling on Oprah to come to the call of the child soldiers. And she did. The rescue officially ended with Bobby, Jason, Laren, and the rescue crew in Chicago live on Oprah.
The Rescue raised the profile of the conflict, which was the first step in an enduring process towards peace. Now that we had caught the attention of the world, it was time to take the next step: to lobby for the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act, a revolutionary bill aimed at devising a strategy to arrest warlord Joseph Kony, rescue the abducted child soldiers, and rebuild Northern Uganda.
How it Ends: Lobby Days and the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act
After The Rescue, we joined 2,000 other people in Washington, D.C. to lobby for this landmark bill. The following is a letter I wrote to Plymouth State's President Sara Jayne Steen nearly one year after we lobbied for the bill:
Good Evening President Steen,
I have incredible, and life changing news.
In June 2009, several Plymouth State students joined with 2,000 other youth in Washington, D.C. to lobby our congressman and senators to sign onto the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. The bill states that if passed, the United States must design a strategy to arrest warlord Joseph Kony, rescue the children he has abducted, and to fund the rebuilding of Northern Uganda.
With over 500 meetings booked on the largest lobby day for an African conflict in American history, we could see that our voices were making progress.
Now, nearly one year later, the bill unanimously passed through the senate, and the foreign relations committee.
Tonight, through blinding tears, I watched as the House of Representatives passed the bill. Within 10 days, President Obama will sign onto the bill, and it will be instated as American law.
One years worth of fund-raising, getting nearly 1500 petitions signed on the PSU campus alone, raising awareness, and lobbying have proven that the youth of America do have a voice. That we hold the power to change American policy and to make our world a better place. Change is possible. We have the ability to change the world.
I am proud to say that Ending Genocide Around the World has worked tirelessly towards this cause. Tonight, we triumphed with our brothers and sisters around the world.
We celebrate this victory for America and for Uganda.
Thank you so much for your support, and leading a campus community that enables students' to chase their dreams and make the unimaginable a reality.
Sincerely,
Bryan
I have incredible, and life changing news.
In June 2009, several Plymouth State students joined with 2,000 other youth in Washington, D.C. to lobby our congressman and senators to sign onto the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. The bill states that if passed, the United States must design a strategy to arrest warlord Joseph Kony, rescue the children he has abducted, and to fund the rebuilding of Northern Uganda.
With over 500 meetings booked on the largest lobby day for an African conflict in American history, we could see that our voices were making progress.
Now, nearly one year later, the bill unanimously passed through the senate, and the foreign relations committee.
Tonight, through blinding tears, I watched as the House of Representatives passed the bill. Within 10 days, President Obama will sign onto the bill, and it will be instated as American law.
One years worth of fund-raising, getting nearly 1500 petitions signed on the PSU campus alone, raising awareness, and lobbying have proven that the youth of America do have a voice. That we hold the power to change American policy and to make our world a better place. Change is possible. We have the ability to change the world.
I am proud to say that Ending Genocide Around the World has worked tirelessly towards this cause. Tonight, we triumphed with our brothers and sisters around the world.
We celebrate this victory for America and for Uganda.
Thank you so much for your support, and leading a campus community that enables students' to chase their dreams and make the unimaginable a reality.
Sincerely,
Bryan
On May 24, 2010 President Obama signed the bill.
PROOF: The work and efforts made by individuals can truly make a difference in the world that we live in.
