New student group Invisible Children met for its first official meeting Tuesday to discuss child abuse in Uganda, encourage student activism and brainstorm about how events could be planned to raise student awareness at VCU.
More than 25 people gathered on the first floor of the Shafer Court Dining area and munched on homemade cookies and pizza, while Invisible Children’s primary officer, Sarah Knowlton, 21, gave new members an overview of the group.
"Invisible Children began when three guys … went on a trip to Africa and ended up in Northern Uganda," Knowlton said. "(They) found out about the war that had been going on for 21 years … where thousands are dying weekly."
Knowlton, a graphic design major, said the civil war in Uganda has created a dangerous environment for Ugandan children. Most are "night commuting," she said, which refers to children taking extensive routes to school, two-to-four hours both ways, to avoid abduction by Ugandan soldiers.
When abducted, the children are brainwashed, sexually abused and forced into the military, she said.
Because of this, Invisible Children’s main goal is to raise money to help rebuild schools that have been destroyed by the civil war.
"(Our goals are) awareness and money for education," said Allison Proffer, the secondary officer of Invisible Children, "because we feel that education is the key to peace out of their civil war."
One of the major programs Invisible Children will offer this semester is Schools for Schools. This program was created by the national organization of Invisible Children, and it paires one U.S. school with one Ugandan school.
The U.S. school raises money, which is dispersed to its sister school in Uganda. Students who donate can go online and see real-time results illustrating how funds are making a difference.
About 118 schools already are involved, and this semester’s Schools for Schools fundraiser just opened three days ago, Knowlton said.
VCU is paired with Ugandan school, Lacor Secondary School, and needs to raise more than $15,000 by a Feb. 1 deadline.
The attendees divided into three groups, according to their interest in helping Invisible Children work toward the fundraising goal. The awareness group was led by Allyn Clark, the fundraising group was led by Caroline Sumner, and the events group was led by Rachelle Bayan. Each of these groups gathered at different tables, brainstorming together.
Knowlton encouraged students to get involved by participating in the meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of the month or to e-mail members for information. Students seemed very responsive and were positive about their participation.
"I am from a war zone, so I am supportive of all that is being done," said Blaid Mbiyangandu, 20, a premed and biology major. "For now, I am in the event-planning committee, so I will have firsthand (knowledge) on how the organization is growing on campus."
Burnett also shared her passion to participate in Invisible Children and thinks the schools for Schools program will be incredibly effective.
"I love Invisible Children for many reasons," she said. "They are using the money they raise to directly help the people in northern Uganda in very practical ways, (such as) rebuilding schools. Providing these people with the means to educate their children will have such farreaching benefits for the children themselves, their community and the country as a whole."
Invisible Children, Burnett said, reminds her that student activists can make a difference.
A movie produced by the three men who began Invisible Children, "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," will be shown on campus Oct. 5, followed by a Q-and-A session. Refer to the VCU TelegRam and the VCU Invisible Children Web site for time-and-place information.
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Get more information about VCU’s chapter of Invisible Children at http://vcuinvisiblechildren.com or e-mail questions to vcuinvisiblechildren@vcuinvisiblechildren.com Information for Schools about Schools can be found at http://s4s.invisiblechildren.com/schools