A war that span over 20 years between the Lords’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda has resulted in one of the most overlooked humanitarian emergency in the world today. Due to their dwindling support and the Government’s vigor, the LRA lead by Joseph Kony, resorted to abducting innocence children across Uganda and force them to be child soldiers while attacking their parents and others family members who try to oppose them. Thousand were evicted from the homes and villages. Young girls were taken, raped, and sold as bride in the neighboring countries.
Thus far this war has come unnoticed by the world, and the international media has done very little to bring the plight of these children to our attention. It is not until three young American film makers; Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole, who travel to Sudan looking for a story. But what they discovered was the horror, brutality, massacre and oppression of the Ugandan children that is untold.
As it unfolded before their eyes, they decided to chronicle it so the children’s voices can be heard and bring forward their plight to us all.
On the 25th April, Blabness and I participated in the “Rescue”, which is an experiential event where we simulate the abduction, marching, and waiting to be rescued by authorities. It’s a symbolization of what the children went and are still going through. We would be abducted and force to March to the LRA camp where we camp out and wait to be rescued. All of us there was willing to see it through until we get rescued, staying however long.
A successful “rescue” would require two things; Media coverage and the presence of a cultural leader or mogul. While there, we were also asked to write letters to our government representative urging them to put pressure on other world leaders to develop a strategy and support to end the madness in Uganda. We both wrote a letter each to the Hon. Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia stating who we are, why we are doing this and urging him to end this insanity.
On that day over we joined 10 countries, 100 cities, hundreds and thousands of people having 1 voice shouting:
“WE ARE THE CHILDREN”
“THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN”
“IF YOU WANT TO SAVE US”
“COME ALONG AND RESCUE US”
“EVERY WHERE WE GO”
“PEOPLE OUGHT TO KNOW”
“WHO WE ARE”
“THE JOSEPH KONY SOLDIERS”
“AND IF THEY CAN’T HEAR US”
“WE’LL SHOUT A LITTLE LOUDER”
Let’s end this war, free the children, support the movement, raise awareness and bring the leaders of LRA to justice.
Visit: www.invisiblechildren.com
We got to meet a lot of amazing people during the event who were really inspirational. Some have worked in third world countries teaching English, water irrigation and other humanitarian needs. They shared with us their experience and we were moved by their dedication. Working for little to no money, they volunteered their mind and body toward a worthy cause. We also met some people from the Young Missionary group who work as volunteers bring food, water, medicine, education and of course religion to those in need especially in remote country side like in Uganda, Indonesia and others. We got to exchange views of our religion, Islam and Christianity. We found that our religious history and tradition are similar, both dated back to Prophet Abraham. They didn’t press the belief on to us but rather when referring to Jesus and the Bible they merely said, Isa and Injil. It’s a mutual respect of each others' belief that brought about great conversation between us. We also met someone from South Africa who shared with us the current racism that still exist in his country. Even though the Apartheid has long been abolished, racism is still rampant, but in subtle ways.
The people we met have experience enormous hardship to get where they are. But their smile is wider than any of us. They are grateful to what they have overcome and achieve. In the words of Peter, the South African, “I do not need you to feel sorry for me, but rather tell the stories to other with the hope of inspiring them, pay it forward is all I asked”.
