Invisible Children aims to help schools in Uganda
Invisible Children aims to raise awareness of conflict in Uganda.
Published Oct. 10, 2008
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Invisible Children advocate Pat Campbell speaks after a showing of the documentary 'Go' Wednesday night in Bush Auditorium. The film followed American students building schools in Uganda, and Campbell outlined ways for MU students to offer aid.
Halfway across the world in northern Uganda, starvation, fear, war and disease engulf the once-peaceful country that lies in the heart of Africa. But in the United States, including locally at MU, youth are starting to provide refugees in Uganda with the chance for a better life.
On Tuesday, students filled the auditorium in Cornell Hall in an effort to educate themselves about the brutality, war and disease in northern Uganda that often goes unmentioned. At the event, sponsored by the MU chapter of Invisible Children, students viewed the group's documentary "Go."
"I thought it was really important for students to see this documentary because a lot of people don't know what's going on," chapter president and founder Becky Dale said.
Dale said she has been involved with Invisible Children since high school.
"I thought it would be a good idea for me, in particular at least, to get this out to the people at Mizzou because it's such a suppressed subject that needs to become more publicized," she said.
"Go" documents the life-changing opportunity that three high school students from three different schools across the United States experienced as they embarked on a journey to Uganda through the Schools For Schools program. The program is a nationwide philanthropy, aiming to rebuild the education system in Uganda that was drastically damaged during the conflict. Schools from across the United States compete in various fundraisers for the schools in Uganda for a chance to send one representative from the schools that raise the most money.
These students got a first-hand look at what their money is going toward in Uganda. Each student established a personal relationship with a Ugandan student.
"The thing we've noticed about this generation is that they seem to travel a lot, and care a little bit more, especially after 9/11," Invisible Children roadie Pat Campbell said. Roadies travel the country promoting the documentary and organization.
"Through the Schools For Schools program, we were able to give the youth of America an actual chance at changing the world," Campbell said.
The Invisible Children campaign began in 2003 when three students from Southern California traveled to the Sudanese region of Africa in search of a story that would change the world.
The filmmakers, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole, head the organization that strives to aide the recovery of a country and its citizens who have been harmed by conflict.
"Three people started an organization this big," Invisible Children roadie Lauren Bazon said. "And they started spreading awareness just because they wanted to help someone they had met over in Africa. It's just normal people doing normal things. There are people across the world suffering, and I can actually help them."
Dale said the group's best efforts are simply spreading awareness.
"The best thing to do is to tell other people," Dale said. "Spread the news. And then past that, buying merchandise, going online, getting involved in the clubs, reading up on what's going on and staying aware are major contributions."
