1. MISSION: “Invisible Children uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity.” CHRISTINE CLAUSING
2. History and Background The northern Uganda war has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency intoday’s modern world. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a relentless war for the past 23 years, that has resulted in nearly two million innocent civilians having to fight for their lives, not only daily, but hourly. Thus far, the GoU's attempt to protect its citizens from this rebel militiaoverall has failed, which has resulted in an entire generation of innocent youth that has never known peace and love.
3. Community Need Over 1.2 million children have been captured by rebel warriors and are being forced to fight a war that they know nothing about. They are brutally trained, given automatic rifles and are put on the front lines of the Ugandan war. To try and keep their children safe, families have resorted to night commuting, hiding and running for their lives in the dead of night. These children soldiers are neverallotted amenities and opportunities that we take for granted, like proper housing, nutrition and education. Many children are killed, families destroyed and communities obliterated.
4. Goal Our goal here at Invisible Children is to promote peaceful living throughout the country of Uganda, end the Ugandan war, and ultimately return the millions of abducted child soldiers to their families.
5. My Personal Connection I am studying to become an elementary school teacher and more than anything, I want to help children in any way I can- even if they’re on the other side of the planet.
14. Encouraging LRA desertion: Through FM radio broadcasts and community-based defection fliers, Invisible Children will be sending "Come Home" messages directly to LRA members. These messages will inform the LRA how to safely defect and return home.
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17. Relationship to Critical Thinking Invisible Children is a foundation that relies heavily on critical thinking in that we need people to actually care about the devastation in Uganda. What is meant by this, is that we believe that when our supporters stop, begin to think and ask thoughtful questions about what is happening in northern Uganda, and in turn begin to process the real meaning of what is going on, we are confident that the fact that help is needed will be implicit. They will be inspired to help our cause in any way they can, be it through donations, purchases, or simply spreading the word.
18. Relationship to Critical Reading Relationship to Critical Reading Critical reading is an essential part of the Invisible Children foundation because we believe education plays an important role in the recovery process for the people of northern Uganda. For example, if public schooling is made available, children will learn how to read and understand authors’ logic and ask themselves while reading, “what is important here?” As the future of their country, it is important for these children to ask these types of questions to prevent the election of another leader like Joseph Kony.
19. Relationship to Critical Action After our supporters have learned about the devastations in Uganda, we hope that they will take informed action and join us in doing something about it, by getting involved however they can.
