This is a really good cause so I'm writing about it on every one of the outlets I have. but to the left is the cover and name of a book that follows the life of a child soldier.
I couldn't go to bed without writing something about what i just saw. but let me tell you some back story.
I joined a club at school called City Cru, so that I could get help with regaining my trust and faith in God. I picked this club because they were the only Christian club that did community service and volunteering, which I was shocked about. But anyway. At our last meeting on Monday, one of the members informed us about a walk that was going on this upcoming saturday. He decribed what it was about and asked if we wanted to join in. Of course, being the tree hugger that I am, I said I would totally go, anything for a good cause. So, I finally had some time today to do some research and sign up for the event. I could not even have imagined what I was about to see.
Let me tell you what the walk is about. As most people know, The Congo has been in quite a war for the past 20 years. It is considered one of, if not the most, dangerous places in the world. The reason is because of one man, Joseph Kony. This man is the modern day Hitler; he has gained power through fear. The reason this man is feared is because of what he does to the children of Uganda. He abducts them in the middle of the night and makes them become CHILD SOLDIERS! I'm not saying boys of like 17 or 18 years old but of children, some as young as 9 years old. NINE!!! do you remember what you were doing at 9 years of age? I do, I was playing Barbies with my best friend and having sleepovers. I definitely wasn't being abducted, forced to kill people, and burn houses to the ground.
They were dubbed Invisible for a couple reasons. First, is because the way that they are taken; being abducted in the middle of the night from their homes. The children leave no trace of even being there and trace of where they are going. Most of these children are never seen again; their parents not knowing whether they live or die. Its like they never existed, just ghosts from the past. Another reason is that, globally, these children are going unnoticed. These atrocities are happening and nothing is being done about it. There have been peace talks in the past but Kony is not willing to let these children go. One man is doing this, just one man. How can this be?
I sat and watched a video that was made about these children in horror. I could not even breathe for fear of breaking into tears. At some points of the movie, I had to pause it and catch my breathe before I could continue, repeating that I had to finish watching the 30 minute film out of respect for the children in it. I knew that it was bad in Uganda and the Congo but I never really grasped at just how bad it really was. I have even read a book about these child soldiers but wasn't as affected by it as I was with this film. It's true what they say pictures are worth a thousand words. Watching the film made me feel both ignorant and helpless; ignorant because I didn't know that this was so extreme and helpless because it was going on half way around the world and I couldn't do anything to help.
But I am dedicating myself to this walk because it's the only thing i can do, for now. So, this Saturday, April 25th, I am being abducted. With about 2,000 others, I am leaving the comfort of my bed and walking the 3 miles from Hyde street to East Beach (Presidio), leaving behind a picture of my family and myself, representing the family I am leaving behind and being abducted to an faux LRA camp. I am staying the night to bring awareness to the Invisible Children of Uganda. The only way that I can be "rescued" is by a political official coming to the LRA camp and taking notice of the happenings in Uganda.
Now, I'm asking for your help. Please, please, please, join a group in your city. If you can't, make a donation, buy merchandise or send letters to politcal figures. This is something that CAN NOT continue. I have never felt so helpless in my life. I watched the film on the website and couldn't breathe. I will be waking up with puffy eyes from the tears I shed for these child soldiers but my tears will not bring awareness. My voice will have to be enough and I promise these young boys to shout as loud as I can. Let me know if you want more information or you can go to http://www.invisiblechildren.com for more details. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope that my words and tears encourage some of you to stand up for these children who are seemingly INVISIBLE.
