Invisible Children Inc
Encyclopedia
Invisible Children, Inc.
is a nonpartisan
, non-profit organization
seeking to draw attention to the atrocities committed by Joseph Kony
and the rebel force known as the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) in Central Africa
. Invisible Children uses film to raise awareness of the abductions and the forcing of children to become soldiers. Primarily youth-driven, IC creates effective and adaptive programs on the ground in Central Africa that focus on rehabilitation, education, micro-economic development.
(GNC) was Invisible Children, Inc's first advocacy event. A worldwide event organized by the makers of the film Invisible Children
. The GNC took place on April 29, 2006. Youth from around the world walked to city centers and spent the night in parks to show support for northern Ugandan children, who walk every night into city centers attempting to avoid capture by the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA).
was a nationwide event hosted by the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. on April 28, 2007. In 15 cities across the United States, 68,000 individuals came together to raise awareness about the situation of the displacement camps
in northern Uganda.
The event had three main goals:
Young adults, roadies, present the films to audiences to encourage activism and donations. In fall 2009, Ugandan advocates joined the film tours to bring a personal face to the conflict. Both Invisible Children's Legacy Tour and Face-to-Face Tour have had Ugandan advocates.
, Amuru
, and Pader
districts, with full paid, merit-based scholarships to secondary school
and university
as well as, mentoring from a community leader. The three main goals of the Legacy Scholarship Program, as outlined on Invisible Children's website, are to: increase access to post-primary education, improve learning environments, and provide mentoring from local leaders.
563 secondary students and 201 university students receive scholarships through the program. The awarding of a scholarship is determined by community leaders, who take into account academic performance as well as, special circumstances, students who are total orphans, heads of household, formerly abducted returnees, those living positively with HIV/AIDS, or child mothers.
Funding for the scholarships and mentoring comes from donations Invisible Children collects through its website and at screenings of Invisible Children films.
is a fundraising
program developed by Invisible Children, Inc. The goal of Schools for Schools is to have students creatively compete to raise money for rebuilding schools in northern Uganda.
The money raised goes towards rebuilding and refurbishing Ugandan partner schools in five main categories: water
and sanitation
, infrastructure
and facilities, teacher training
and incentives, equipment and resources, and technology
.
At the end of the competition, the top fundraising schools are awarded a trip to Uganda for a student representative, to help implement the money they have raised.
Over 90% of the funds raised from the Schools for Schools competition go directly to northern Uganda for implementation. The other 10% is used for related administrative and material costs for the program.
(IDP) Camps through making culturally unique bracelets.
The bracelets are sold packaged with a DVD, which tells the story of an Ugandan child. The bracelet DVDs are sold through Invisible Children Inc.'s online store.
Many of the seamstresses were given counseling and were trained in tailoring skills. Currently, MEND employees 13 Ugandan woman.
is a nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
seeking to draw attention to the atrocities committed by Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony is an African terrorist who is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army , a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments in Uganda...
and the rebel force known as the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA) in Central Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Invisible Children uses film to raise awareness of the abductions and the forcing of children to become soldiers. Primarily youth-driven, IC creates effective and adaptive programs on the ground in Central Africa that focus on rehabilitation, education, micro-economic development.
Lord's Resistance Army vs. Government of Uganda
The war against the Government of Uganda began in 1986, when the Lord's resistance was formed, by a man named Joseph Kony. Joseph Kony was given his power through inheritance from his aunt Alice Auma. She started the Holy Spirit Movement because she was "called" upon by the Lord to overthrow the Ugandan Government. Kony believed he was sent from God to create peace among the people of Uganda, when in fact he did the exact opposite. The LRA has committed heinous crimes against the Ugandan civilians including abduction, rape, maiming, and killing. The LRA also forces civilians, mostly children and young adults, into being soldiers.Cause for Action
This organization is committed to giving a voice and shining a light on the invisible children of Uganda, and giving those children and young adults the chance to rebuild the lives they were taken away from, through filmed documents of their stories that seek to inspire change in northern Uganda. Invisible children enters into war-affected areas to capture the untold stories of those whose lives are affected by this 20 year war. And the main kid was a kid name Tony.Advocacy
Invisible Children's mission is to supply steady jobs and provide a higher quality education for the Ugandan people through programs provided by the organization. This organization is creating change in Uganda by preparing a generation to take charge in not only their futures but the future of their country. The programs that are established were extensively researched and meet the needs of the people through excellent mentorships, construction of more adequate schools, uprooting of abductees from the camps, and financial stability.Face to Face
Face to Face Tour, also known as The Legacy Tour, was created to give Ugandan advocates the opportunity to share their own stories themselves. The advocates are chosen from the top students in the Legacy Scholarship Program. These students have overcome numerous obstacles but are not going to let their pasts interfere with the plans they have for their futures. With this tour you are able to meet the advocates face to face after viewing their stories that were captured on film.We Want Obama
In April 2009, Invisible Children wanted Obama and because of the 259,472 people who have signed the Citizens Arrest Warrant for Joseph Kony, they got him a little over a year later. The House of Representatives passed the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act on May 13 of 2010 and by May 24, 2010 president Obama signed them. The Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act were passed to cease the LRA, by the president constructing a strategy to halt the violence that is caused by the LRA.The Rescue
The Rescue is an event that is held to raise awareness for the abducted in Uganda. In the course of the event, the participants symbolically "abduct" themselves, spending the night in a public place and aspire to be "rescued" by the media or celebrities, and striving to reach the attention of government officials, so they can take initiative to stop child abduction and rescue those who are child soldiers.Book Drive
Book Drive is an event that is hosted to sell books to raise money to renovate schools and bestow scholarships to needy students in Uganda. When you buy books from www.betterworldbooks.com/invisiblechildren, 10% of your order goes to Invisible Children. College students can sell back their books to raise money to support the cause.Global Night Commute
The Global Night CommuteGlobal Night Commute
The Global Night Commute was a worldwide event organized by the makers of the film Invisible Children through the organization Invisible Children Inc. The GNC took place on April 29, 2006...
(GNC) was Invisible Children, Inc's first advocacy event. A worldwide event organized by the makers of the film Invisible Children
Invisible Children
Invisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2003 American documentary film. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.-Synopsis:...
. The GNC took place on April 29, 2006. Youth from around the world walked to city centers and spent the night in parks to show support for northern Ugandan children, who walk every night into city centers attempting to avoid capture by the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA).
Displace Me
Displace MeDisplace Me
Displace Me was a nationwide event hosted by the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. on April 28, 2007. In 15 cities across the United States, 68,000 individuals came together to raise awareness about the situation of the displacement camps in northern Uganda....
was a nationwide event hosted by the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. on April 28, 2007. In 15 cities across the United States, 68,000 individuals came together to raise awareness about the situation of the displacement camps
Displaced persons camp
A displaced persons camp or DP camp is a temporary facility for displaced persons coerced into forced migration. The term is mainly used for camps established after World War II in West Germany and in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, primarily for refugees from Eastern Europe and for the...
in northern Uganda.
The event had three main goals:
- To educate participants about displacement camps in the North by simulating, as best as possible, the experience of living in an IDP camp.
- To create greater national and international attention of the humanitarian crises in northern Uganda.
- To garner the political attention needed to see a peaceful resolution to the war in northern Uganda, primarily through the appointment of one senior level U.S. diplomat.
Hometown Shakedown
On November 18, 2009, Invisible Children, Inc. held the Hometown Shakedown. Supporters of Invisible Children, Inc. were asked to attend meetings with their local government representatives to persuade their representatives to co-sponsor the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.Tours
Invisible Children, Inc. tours their films around the United States and Canada in order to raise awareness of the issues in eastern Africa. The films are shown at schools, universities, community centers, and religious institutions.Young adults, roadies, present the films to audiences to encourage activism and donations. In fall 2009, Ugandan advocates joined the film tours to bring a personal face to the conflict. Both Invisible Children's Legacy Tour and Face-to-Face Tour have had Ugandan advocates.
Filmography
| Film | Release | Director(s) | Bracelet Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rough Cut | 2004 | Bobby Bailey | N/A |
| Go | 2008 | Laren Poole | N/A |
| Together We Are Free | 2009 | Jason Russell | N/A |
| The Rescue | 2009 | Jason Russell | Grey |
| Innocent: The Story of a Night Commuter | 2005 | N/A | White |
| Grace: The Story of a Child Mother | 2005 | Danica Russell, Vanessa Contopulos, Noelle Jouglet, Katie Bradel | Green |
| Emmy: The Story of an Orphan | 2006 | Bobby Bailey | Red |
| Roseline: The Story of an AIDS Victim | 2008 | Jason Russell | Blue |
| Sunday: The Story of a Displaced Child | 2009 | Bobby Bailey | Black |
| Brown is for Tony | 2010 | Jason Russell | Brown |
Legacy Scholarship Program
Launched in 2005, the Legacy Scholarship Program provides Ugandan students in the GuluGulu
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
, Amuru
Amuru
Amuru is a town in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Amuru District. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, and Pader
Pader
Pader may refer to:* Pader District, a district of Uganda* Pader, Uganda, capital of Pader District* Pader , a river in Germany* PADER, the Party for Democracy and Reconciliation* PaDER, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection...
districts, with full paid, merit-based scholarships to secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
as well as, mentoring from a community leader. The three main goals of the Legacy Scholarship Program, as outlined on Invisible Children's website, are to: increase access to post-primary education, improve learning environments, and provide mentoring from local leaders.
563 secondary students and 201 university students receive scholarships through the program. The awarding of a scholarship is determined by community leaders, who take into account academic performance as well as, special circumstances, students who are total orphans, heads of household, formerly abducted returnees, those living positively with HIV/AIDS, or child mothers.
Funding for the scholarships and mentoring comes from donations Invisible Children collects through its website and at screenings of Invisible Children films.
Schools for Schools
Schools for SchoolsSchools for Schools
Schools for Schools is a fundraising program created by the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. The goal of the program is to have students and schools in the western world creatively compete to raise money and rebuild schools in northern Uganda, a region whose education standards and facilities have...
is a fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
program developed by Invisible Children, Inc. The goal of Schools for Schools is to have students creatively compete to raise money for rebuilding schools in northern Uganda.
The money raised goes towards rebuilding and refurbishing Ugandan partner schools in five main categories: water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
and sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
, infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and facilities, teacher training
Teacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
and incentives, equipment and resources, and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
.
At the end of the competition, the top fundraising schools are awarded a trip to Uganda for a student representative, to help implement the money they have raised.
Over 90% of the funds raised from the Schools for Schools competition go directly to northern Uganda for implementation. The other 10% is used for related administrative and material costs for the program.
Bracelet Campaign
The Bracelet Campaign is Invisible Children, Inc.'s first economic initiative. It was initially started to give employment opportunities to individuals living in Internally Displaced PersonInternally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
(IDP) Camps through making culturally unique bracelets.
The bracelets are sold packaged with a DVD, which tells the story of an Ugandan child. The bracelet DVDs are sold through Invisible Children Inc.'s online store.
Savings and Investment Training Initiative
Economic training classes in budget management, savings plans, and ways to invest money were provided through the Savings and Investment Training Initiative (SITI). The SITI was created by Invisible Children, Inc. to help individuals in IDP camps become knowledgeable on financial issues.Village Savings and Loan Associations
Former bracelet makers who were able to move back home from IDP camps manage the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA). Comprised of 50 groups of 20 members each, the VSLA acts as a community bank, assisting community members of the VSLA with financial issues and providing them with ways to save money, earn interest, and access to capital to start small businesses. Invisible Children, Inc.’s role in the VSLA is to provide knowledge of its methodology. Once learned, groups operate on their own allowing members to control their own money.MEND
MEND is an economic venture started by Invisible Children, Inc. Former female, Ugandan abductees are given the opportunity to hand sew handbags, in order to have a steady job and achieve financial independence.Many of the seamstresses were given counseling and were trained in tailoring skills. Currently, MEND employees 13 Ugandan woman.
Awards
- In 2007, Progressive Source Awards, awarded Invisible Children's TRI podcast as the Best Fundraising Video.
- In 2008, Invisible Children was awarded the Human Security Award.
- In 2008, Invisible Children was awarded the People's Voice Webby Award.
- In 2008, Invisible Children received an award from the American Advertising Federation.
- In 2008, Invisible Children received an award from the 7th Annual Interactive Awards.
- In 2008, Invisible Children was awarded the Summit Creative Award.
- In 2009, Invisible Children was nominated for the Think Social Award.
- In 2010, Invisible Children, Inc. won a Classy Award for Most Effective Awareness Campaign.