TEAM CAL PACIFIC
San Diego County, Orange County, Imperial County, Phoenix, Tucson, Oahu (HI)

NICK PAVON, LINDSAY PLATT, SARA JANE FOGARTY & CARLOS ADAN

Ugandan teammate: Ojok Francis Papito

Self-proclaimed team motto: “Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.”

Hi Team Cal Pacific! The name Cal Pacific sounds so cool…like a reality TV surfing show. Anyway, let’s begin with where you’re from.

Lindsey Platt (LP): San Antonio, Texas.

Sara Jane Fogarty (SJF): Savannah, Georgia.

Nick Pavon (NP): Hemit, California.

Carlos Adan (CA): Chicago, Illinois.

What is your favorite TV Show?

LP: The Office.

SF: The Daily Show and the Walking Dead.

NP: That 70s Show.

CA: Colbert Report or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Or that new reality surfing show Cal Pacific. Just kidding. What is your favorite football team? As always, if you don’t have one, it will recorded as the Chargers by default.

LP: Texas…I only watch college football…so Chargers.

SF: I grew up watching SEC football…Georgia Bullbogs. I mean, Chargers.

NP: I love Tebow…

I didn’t hear you. The Chargers?

NP: No, I love Tebow.

Okay, so the Chargers. Carlos?

CA: The Chicago Bears.

How did you initially find out about Invisible Children?

LP: I went to the 25 event when Mumford & Sons was playing. I didn’t know about IC, I just went to see Mumford. Now I’m here.

SF: The Roadies came to my high school and stayed at my parents house during their tour of The Rough Cut.

NP: We watched The Rough Cut in a documentary class in high school. Then I got involved in the Schools for Schools program, went to college for a year and then applied to be a Roadie.

CA: In high school I heard kids talking about IC. I got a copy of The Rough Cut, and then went to The Rescue and How it Ends.

Any pet peeves or annoying habits your teammates are going to learn really soon about you?

LP: I’m very talkative in the morning.

SF: I’m pretty sarcastic.

NP: I never shut up.

CA: I’m really fidgety.

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

LP: Mother Teresa.

SF: John Lennon.

NP: Napoleon Bonaparte.

CA: Myles Davis.

What are you most looking forward to on this tour?

LP: To see Kony get arrested…and I’m looking forward to hanging out with these kids.

SF: Meeting Papito (our Ugandan teammate) and our trip to Hawaii!

NP: Hawaii…and then making all the other Roadies jealous we got to go there.

CA: Going on the road and just getting to know these people better.

I am so excited for you Cal Pacific, and not just because of Hawaii but that helps. May you spread the word and stop at nothing.

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Cal Pacific wants you to watch their surfing show, err, I mean book a screening. Call them at (619) 562-2799 Ext 197 or fill out this form.

Today, Agnes is a proud Accountant touring America to share her story. Her education was powered by the partnership between Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program and Better World Books.

Watch this video because we could all use a little Agnes inspiration.

Meet Agnes (Full-length) from Better World Books on Vimeo.

Imagine someone your mom’s age not being able to write. She’s afraid to hold a pen. She is too self-conscious to write on paper, so she just practices writing in the dirt. She’s a hardworking mother who takes responsibility for the family finances, but she never had the opportunity to learn even the basics that would allow her to keep a record of those finances, or even sign her name to official documents.

Many beneficiaries of Invisible Children’s Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program are adults who missed the opportunity to attend school because of abject poverty or disruption from war in Northern Uganda. Because of this gap, the Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) initiative was born. Through VSLA, they are learning to save money and take loans to start small businesses. Through FAL, they are learning to read and write.

This week, 444 beneficiaries of VSLA completed FAL training. They are now at ease holding a pen and doing simple arithmetic of their sales and savings records. They enjoyed this program and say they want it expanded to accommodate more people.

A two days’ refresher Training of Trainers was also recently conducted to help FAL facilitators prepare for the next batch of adult students. The goal is to have another 45 groups participating in the FAL program by the end of 2012. It’s incredible to see an adult take heart and learn basic numeracy; I love this capacity building program.

-Eric

Sean Stephenson, a world-renowned speaker and educator came by our office today to motivate and encourage us in the work we are doing here. He is an inspirational giant who refuses to let ‘buts’ take away the life and joy that we are meant to experience. Through tidbits of his experiences, he taught us today that it’s all about your perspective. What you hate owns you. Your time is not the most precious commodity you have – it’s your energy. We are so grateful we got to hear from this man. It was the best way to start a Monday.

Learn about his incredible journey in the video below.

Invisible Children has been entered as a worthy cause to win $50,000. Cultivate Wines is giving away the money to the charity that gets the most votes between now and March 30. Do you know what this means? VOTE. You can vote once a day until it ends. It’s simple – click on this link and it will take you directly to the Invisible Children voting page. It’s so easy, your grandma running Windows 95 already voted.

Last week, a team from Schools for Schools (S4S) presented the keys for a two unit teachers’ house to the staff at Sir Samuel Baker School (SSBS). Each unit has 2 bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Teachers with a heavy workload and many responsibilities will be given priority to live in the newly renovated house, where they will be more available to help students during the school year.

As a former student at Sir Samuel Baker School, I remember the sorrowful state of this now renovated block. The structure suffered massive looting during the war, and in 1985 a watchman trying to safeguard the house was killed by looters.  Located near to my former dormitory, I would hide inside one of the dilapidated bedrooms and read my books in my free time.

I never imagined that this house would regain its original look after wasting away for over 25 years. Thank you, S4S contributors, for reviving SSBS’s lost glory. Your sacrifice has renovated my imaginations too.

-Eric

TEAM TEXAS
Texas, Louisiana, Las Cruces (New Mexico)
ANDREW BYRUM, STESHA DURANTE, THOMAS BOWMAN & SAMANTHA MELHAFF

Ugandan Roadie: Adong Vicky

Self-proclaimed team motto: “We’re fixin’ to dance”

Hi Team Texas! How y’all doin? Welcome to my office. Let’s begin with where you are from.

Samantha Melhaff (SH): Galt, California.

Stesha Durante (SD): Spokane, Washington.

Thomas Bowman (TB): Springfield, Virginia.

Andrew Byrum (AB): Raleigh, North Carolina.

What are you most looking forward to during your adventures?

SH: Southern hospitality.

SD: Southern hospitality…as long as they are vegetarian-friendly.

No pressure host homes!

TB: Living out of a van and being super simple.

AB: Moving from city to city, being a vagabond of sorts.

How did you initially find out about Invisible Children?

SH: I randomly met Jason Russell at his 30^th birthday party dinner and he told me about Invisible Children. Later I hosted a screening at my home church.

SD: My neighbor loaned me a copy of The Rough Cut in 2006, and then I went to the Global Night Commute.

TB: In 2008 I was a sophomore in college in Southwest Virginia, and my friend was the president of the IC club. I got involved and was hooked. That led me to host 3 screenings.

AB: I went to the Fourth Estate and after I graduated high school, I applied to be a roadie.

Do you have any pet peeves or annoying habits that you should mention before you embark together in an enclosed van for 3 months?

SH: I am very particular about coffee…I’m really only OK with Starbucks.

SD: I sing a lot. In vehicles. When I’m behind the wheel.

TB: I’m very sarcastic…I’ve already been threatened to be tied to the top of the van.

AB: I have a bad craving for junk food.

I try to throw football into most conversations, so what is your favorite team?

SH: San Diego Chargers.

SD: I usually watch minor league hockey but I support the Chargers.

TB: I’m a Denver Broncos fan.

I definitely preferred the first two answers.

AB: Carolina Panthers.

What is your biggest fear?

SH: Balloons.

SD: Heights.

TB: Not being accepted by people.

AB: Snakes.

Good ones, although balloons is a weird one. But no judgment. Who is your celebrity crush?

SH: Ryan Gosling.

SD: Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

TB: Zooey Deschanel.

AB: Regina Spektor.

And finally, what would you eat for your last meal?

SH: Italian.

SD: Frozen yogurt.

TB: Raspberries. Or frozen peas…I eat them frozen.

AB: Fast food…Bojangles.

We are so excited for the adventures that await you. Stop at nothing, Team Texas.

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Team Texas wants to two-step their way to a screening in your town. Call them at (619) 562-2799 Ext 177 or fill out this form.

It’s an exciting time down here in the book drive department. The annual book drive competition ends in just four days. Yup, you heard it right – in four days one of you will win a trip to Uganda! Which means, by this coming Tuesday, February 7th, your books must be packaged, picked up by UPS and on their way to Better World Books. UPS pickups should be scheduled, through the portal, by Monday Febraruy 6th to ensure that they get picked up by Tuesday.

As is customary, I’ll go ahead and offer you a dose of inspiration. This one takes the form of a song from our boy, Stevie. Here you go. Just imagine those books have little voices and are singing to the Better World Books warehouse. Too far? Oh well.

Anyway, as always, please call or email us if you have any questions (or just to boast about how many books you’ve collected) – we love to hear from you. We can’t wait to see the results of this season’s book drive! Keep on pressing on, dear book drivers!

Much love,

The Book Drive Team
bookdrive@invisiblechildren.com
(619) 562-2799 x209

President Obama referenced the mission to stop the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday. This is a big sign that things are going well.

“And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it’s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It’s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these — for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.”

Read the full transcript of President Obama’s speech here via The Washington Post.

Ugandan Roadie: Odong Kizito

Self-proclaimed team motto: “Are you ready to rumble?”

Honorable mention: They call themselves Lawrence and the Machine.

Team Mascots: Juba (like the peace talks) and Troupa (like the troops)

Welcome to the getting-to-know-the-roadies interview. Let’s start with where you’re from.

Dyanna Jaye (DJ): Chesapeake, Virginia.

Freesia Levine (FL): Santa Rosa, California.

Lawrence Bremer (LB): Winchester, New York

Emily Burchett (EB): Salt Lake City, Utah.

You guys were just informed of who your Ugandan teammate is going to be. Are you excited?

DJ: It’s Odong Kizito! We’re so excited!

Thad [our photographer]: He is the most amazing man – you are very lucky to have him.

EB: We can’t wait to meet up with him!

So, how did you guys come to be familiar with Invisible Children? How did your roads lead here?

DJ: In 2006 my World History teacher showed The Rough Cut to our high school class.

FL: I went to a screening of The Rough Cut.

LB: I got involved after I saw pieces of The Rough Cut in college in Connecticut.

EB: In high school I saw The Rough Cut, and then won the golden ticket from the GO documentary and won a trip to Uganda.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

DJ: I am looking forward to seeing Kentucky since I’ve never been there. And I’m excited to go to DC since they have been lobbying the bill.

FL: I haven’t been to any of the places we’re visiting except DC so I’m excited for everywhere.

LB: I’m excited to be in DC during an election year!

EB: I’m looking forward to Kentucky and the accents.

And the hats! In the event of downtime, what is your favorite movie that you’ll try to get your teammates to watch?

DJ: Love Actually.

FL: Life is Beautiful.

LB: Step Brothers

EB: Jurassic Park, or The Guardian.

Nice. What about TV shows?

DJ: The Office.

FL: Friends.

LB: The Office.

EB: Modern Family, or Dirty Jobs.

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

DJ: Banksy [the British street artist].

FL: Bell Hooks…I have a social justice crush.

LB: Emma Watson…there are no words.

EB: The Silver Fox [Sean Connery] and/or Ryan Gosling.

What is your biggest fear?

DJ: Climate change.

FL: Getting lost by myself in a car.

LB: When I see people standing close to the edge of a cliff.

EB: Shots and needles. And I have a weird fear of sleeping next to a window.

Hopefully none of you will have to face your biggest fears while out on the road. We’re so excited for you to go launch the KONY 2012 campaign – stop at nothing, Team Mid-Atlantic.

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Team Mid-Atlantic wants to meet you at a screening. Call them to set one up at (619) 562-2799 Ext 180 or fill out this form.