Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Invisible Children Event


Invisible Children is an organization that in the last several years has become popular with young activists. On Friday March 6th the Virginia Commonwealth University chapter of Invisible Children held a screening of their documentary “Go,” which debuted in the fall of 2008.

The movie is centered around, then high school sophomore, Amanda Mitchell and two other high school students. Before the filmed played, a few Invisible children gave some background information. After talking to biology junior Briana Lambert it is evident that this is a cause that many students can be passionate about.

The purpose of Invisible Children as a national group is to raise awareness and gain support to end the longest running war in Africa and to stop Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Arm that kidnaps and forces children in Northern Uganda to be soldiers.

After the brief information session the lights dimmed and the film started playing. It was a 40-minute emotion filled documentary that shed some light on lives affected by Joseph Kony and the LRA in Northern Uganda.

Several students had competed to win a trip to Africa with Invisible children; the documentary followed three of them around as they learned about Uganda and helped rebuild schools as well as making ever-lasting relationships.

Creative Advertising sophomore Matt Whitt said that the film “solidified a lot of things that I kinda knew where going on, but to see it actually happen was a different experience. Putting a name and face to the actual events is what Invisible Children does really well; they personalize it.”

The film gave viewers a chance to get as close as they could to experiencing the drama of everyday life of young people in Uganda. Amanda Mitchell went on a emotional rollercoaster while on her summer trip to Africa. She found a girl just like her; they shared a love for music and like to do all the same things teenage girls like to do. After quickly becoming friends Amanda found out about the girls secret that hit her like a wall.

After the screening Amanda gave a brief talk. She said that before the trip “all I wanted to do was to make a difference; more than just holding a sign.” Before the trip she only worried about where she belonged but once she met the girl, Gloria, she had a purpose.

Invisible Children is always searching for support. There are a few ways that students can get involved. Every other Sunday at 5 p.m. the VCU chapter meets in front of the Common’s theater, the exact date of the next meeting is unsure because of spring break. If time commitment is an issue a student can sign up for Tri on the Invisible Children website where they can donate three dollars a week.


[pictured is Matt Whitt decorate in his Invisible Children garb]