Invisible Children documentary returns to WMU tonight

By Alyssa Herter
Western Herald

“Can a story change the world?” Invisible Children begs this question, then tells individuals how they can help bring justice to their world.

At 7 p.m. tonight, an Invisible Children road crew will lead a screening of the humanitarian organization’s original documentary, “Invisible Children: Rough Cut.” The screening will take place on Western Michigan University’s campus in the Fetzer Center’s Kirsch Auditorium. The group’s stop at WMU is part of their “Legacy Tour.”

The documentary chronicles the lives of the thousands of children affected by Africa’s longest-running war.

“I think it’s such a horrific war that’s going on, and after seeing the movie there was no other choice but to help however I could,” said Katie Sloan, the WMU student responsible for organizing the event.

24-years-ago, Joseph Kony formed the Lord’s Resistance Army and set out on a vicious rampage that resulted in Africa’s longest-running war. 90% of the LRA is comprised of abducted children, most between the ages of 8 and 15, who have been forced to kill.

In the spring of 2003, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole, traveled from Southern California to Uganda to film a documentary. The story they captured was about the thousands of children who trekked miles every night into the city of Gulu, out of fear of being kidnapped from their homes and forced into the LRA.

These “night commuters,” would sleep in bus terminals every night, and were practically raising themselves. Countless problems resulted, including increased risk of the spread of AIDS. The three filmmakers called their film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” because nobody knew the children’s story. Until that time, their story had gone untold.

They were invisible to Americans.

Now, Invisible Children has grown from a rough-cut documentary shot by three inexperienced friends, to a non-profit organization responsible for abolishing the night-commute of thousands of children, and organizing peace talks between the Ugandan government and the LRA. They have set up a successful scholarship program and established schools for displaced and refugee children, as well as a bracelet campaign, which creates a means of economic stability for displaced people.

Though Invisible Children has hosted film screenings in Kalamazoo before, this tour is unlike anything they’ve attempted in the past. The most notable addition this time around is the presence of Boni, a Ugandan, and former child soldier. In the film, Boni is interviewed about life after being a soldier. At the screening he will share his personal story, and give a first-hand account of life in war-torn Uganda.

“I’m excited for Boni to come and to speak, and I’m just excited for more people to find out about it – for awareness to be brought to our campus – for people to get involved,” Sloan said.

The mission statement on Invisible Children’s website states,
“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. As a non-profit we work to transform apathy into activism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change.”

Invisible Children representatives will lead the event tonight, and will be available after the screening to answer questions.

“I think it’s important that people come because first of all, it’s just a great film. And I think it’s important that students know about world events because we have a lot of resources. We have a lot of capabilities to make a change, and also it’s so easy to make a difference with this organization,” Sloan said. “Also, without students and people getting involved, who knows if the war will go on for another 20 years.”

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=16194

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Mar 31 2010. Filed under Breaking, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com