Uganda: Photo Friday

Kristen Bell and Jolly Okot, Invisible Children’s Country Director, celebrate the commissioning of a girls’ dormitory at Lacor Secondary School.

A new face at MEND

For those who have spent years with the LRA, returning to normal life and being accepted is a difficult and complex process.  When someone associated with the LRA returns to their community, there are a number of interrelated issues that need to be addressed: health and basic needs, psychosocial support, family life, establishing positive relationships, and opportunities for education and income generation.  We believe that those involved with the LRA can re-enter their communities and live a productive civilian life, if these factors are addressed.

Each of the seamstresses in our MEND program is a former LRA abductee. Recognizing the complexities of this situation, Invisible Children has recently added a new member to the team: Evelyn, who will work as a new Social Worker for the program. (more…)

White Arrows @ The Bootleg for Invisible Children

Whew! Did you guys have a good 25 event? We’re currently sifting through all the photos and video footage and we can’t wait to show you guys. I’ll be posting up a 25 band recap soon so if you missed out, well, then you can find out all about it and check out some of the stellar bands that played for us.

In the meantime I wanted to tell you about an awesome show coming up for Invisible Children, put on by our friends in White Arrows. They’ve decided to donate one of the night’s of their Bootleg residency to Invisible Children, so we’ve invited two of our favorite LA-based artists to open: Steffaloo and J Irvin Dally.

Steffaloo has been a huge supporter of ours over the last few months, and we had the good fortune of hanging with her at this year’s SXSW where she performed a bunch of times and killed it. You can find her music HERE.

J Irvin Dally is one of our absolute favorites- he played for our SXSW Silver Series AND our LA 25 event, because he rules in every way. Can’t wait to see him perform again. Check out his stuff HERE.

If you’re in the LA area on May 9th be sure to come by and watch some amazing bands play for us. It’s going to be a good night.

Video: Raise Hope for Congo

Actor and activist Ryan Gosling recently traveled with the Enough Project to eastern Congo to witness first-hand the effects of war there. From the scenes he captured, Ryan created this moving video for the Enough Project’s “Raise Hope for Congo” campaign working to end the war in Congo. To learn more, visit RaiseHopeForCongo.org

Ryan Gosling: “Raise Hope for Congo” from Enough Project on Vimeo.

The Fourth Estate

The time has come for a new generation to stand up for the rights of the invisible. A new estate founded on the belief that all men and women in the world are created equal, and that Justice for all is not a fantasy. This August we will come together to map out a new revolution. Be part of this new revolution and join us for The Fourth Estate. For more information and to apply click here

The Fourth Estate from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Ugandans love German-basement-techno-house music. It’s all they listen to. – JJ

25 – Gulu style

For the last several weeks, Invisible Children Uganda (ICU) has waited in anticipation for 25, and we’ve looked forward to hearing about how each city would break the silence.  But, we wanted to do more than just wait, more than just watch – so we organized our own event in solidarity with all the action surrounding the campaign.  Keeping silent wasn’t really an option for us in Gulu – the need here isn’t to raise awareness – so we decided to put our own spin on the event.

Today, the LRA is no longer active in northern Uganda, but at the height of the insurgency, there were a few places in Gulu that acted as safe havens for the thousands of night commuters seeking refuge.  Lacor Hospital was one of those places.  So, in coordination with the 25 Campaign and in honor and memory of Lacor Hospital and those impacted by the LRA, members of ICU gathered at the hospital for a day of volunteer service. (more…)

Taking Back Sunday to perform IC Benefit Show

We are very excited to announce the headliner for our 2nd annual “Olé Music Festival” – in partnership with the University of San Diego…

TAKING BACK SUNDAY will be performing at the Jenny Craig Pavilion (USD) on the 5th of May. So if you don’t have plans for Cinco de Mayo yet, put this in your calendar.

Tickets can be purchased here. ($15 for USD students/$30 for general public – and FREE PARKING)

Facebook event details here.

And we will be announcing a very special guest to the lineup soon. Stay tuned…

-alex

The stories of 25 are starting to come in…

Breaking the Silence: Students on a Mission to End Violence in the Congo

Students on a Mission to End Violence in the Congo

by Jenny Inglee

“Nobody is taking responsibility for what is happening in central Africa. This is why Invisible Children is so great.”

Jason Chen, an East Los Angeles College student spoke passionately to TakePart about why he has become a part of Invisible Children’s efforts to put a stop to Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. At the organization’s ‘25′ events on Monday night, Jason and thousands of supporters came out to break their 25 hour silence. For one day and one hour, participants were “speaking out without speaking” to recognize child soldiers and other victims of the 25-year war in central Africa.

Events took place across 18 cities and at the Los Angeles event, TakePart witnessed what it means to start a true youth movement. Teens and college students doned Invisible Children t-shirts, some taped their mouths closed to symbolize staying silent for the victims, and each were leaping at the chance to do something about LRA atrocities in central Africa.

Supporter raised anywhere from $25 to over $4,000 and thus far, the ‘25′ campaign has tallied more than $1.5 million dollars. The funds will help build a rehabilitation center for former child soldiers, implement an early warning radio network to protect civilians and further their campaign to bring peace to the region.

One of the speakers at the event was Geoffrey Nyeko, a young man who has been deeply affected by LRA violence. Geoffrey is from Uganda and lost his brother as well as many other family members in the war. He is now fighting back by working with Invisible Children and mentoring the orphaned children of this region.

Geoffrey told TakePart, “Most of these kids were affected by the war in so many ways. Those that were abducted, those that saw the brutal death of their parents are psychologically affected…If nobody stands to guide them and to encourage them through education, it’s hard for them to believe they can rebuild their life and live a better life tomorrow.”

(more…)