Turning the Camera on Invisible Children
NEIRAD enilno edition
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The atmosphere changed in the English Learning Connections as the movie turned from a seemingly cheerful documentary to a somber film that showed the reality of Ugandan life. The students realized these Ugandan children are in dire need of help; these small victims are the Invisible Children. “The day we look forward to the most is when we are no longer needed,” says Jay one of the volunteers that travels around the country (A.K.A roadies) for the organization.
Jay and her crew came to honor the two-year-old DHS club for its fundraising efforts in the school-for-schools competition. The Darien community pulled together $15,500. A total of $3 million was raised in the United States.
“In the first year [of schools for schools] we got $6,000 in only a few weeks, and we stepped it up last year to raise approximately $15,000,” faculty adviser Ms Stephanie Nelson said. Last year this money was generated through a series of fundraisers. And the DHS chapter is already back into money mode with bake sales being held at the middle school and a toga party on November 15th at The Depot.
Yet, that money barely scratches the surface to begin to help address a situation of dire poverty that exists in the Central African nation. The children have been forced to flee the rebels, live life as orphans on the streets or get shunted to filthy, crowded refugee camps.
They are fleeing from rebels under the leadership of a man causing the civil war named Joseph Kony. He has lead the rebellion in northern Uganda, and his goal is to get child soldiers to fight in the war; it is a terrible situation for these little kids having to flee the rebels their entire waking existence.
“After looking into what the organization does, I decided that I wanted to get more involved,” DHS Invisible Children President Clare Baldwin said.
The push to help began five years ago when three college kids “went in with no aim” to shoot a documentary about Africa, and “stumbled upon” the situation. When they did they were appalled, they turned on the cameras, and shot the documentary “Invisible Children: Rough Cut.” This documentary sparked the attention of the world. “[Invisible Children] focuses on not only the work in Uganda but also in the United States,” said Johannes one of the roadies who came to Darien.
The film has put a harsh light on the problem and presented the world with a challenge to help: “We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals, part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it,” a statement on the organization's Web site states.
For more information about contributing to this cause visit www.invisiblechildren.com or the club invites people to stop by a meeting on Mondays at 7pm in English Learning Connections Room. Click here for more club info.
