'Invisible Children' shows Berlin how to 'Speak Out By Not Speaking'

Linda Garrity, an Integrated Language Arts teacher at McGee School, recently coordinated a very moving and educational event at McGee School. Garrity, with the support of the staff, chose the Invisible Children organization to visit McGee School.

Invisible Children is a non-profit organization that uses film, creativity, and social action to end the use of child soldiers in terrorist Joseph Koney’s rebel war and to restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity.  This is the longest running war in African history and spans over four countries.  Although this war has been featured in many major media outlets such as Oprah, Larry King Live, CNN, NBC, MTV, Huffington Post, New York Times, People, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone magazines, very few people know what really happens to the children and families in those African communities or how they can help support those communities targeted in the war.   

According to Garrity, “We are always looking of ways to make the students aware of various cultures and global issues around the world. Our principal, Dr. Scott Ratchford, had seen a presentation by Invisible Children at his previous schools.  After investigating the program we liked it for several reasons.  First, violently capturing boys and creating boy soldiers is something that is inhumane, deplorable, and unthinkable. Yet, it is an issue that few people are aware of.  Secondly, it was an issue brought to the world's eyes by the youth.”  

After a short film, a victim of the war spoke to the students and faculty of McGee.  Robert Anywar described how his village was repeatedly attacked by militant boy soldier groups led by Joseph Koney’s army. Anywar saw many people in his village slaughtered and had many friends kidnapped and turned into boy soldiers.  In order to escape possible attacks, he “night commuted” away from his village every night.  Anywar is now a mentor to boy soldiers who have escaped and returned home, and has dedicated his life to educating people about the brutalities that continue and how communities around the world, like Berlin, can help make a difference. 

Invisible Children was started in 2003 by 3 friends who simply went to Africa to take pictures.  They happened upon this issue of war, but instead of closing their eyes to it, they decided to do something about it.  One of them, Nate Henn, who dedicated his life to peace and education in central Africa, was killed in 2010 in one of Koney’s attacks.  Invisible Children’s drive and determination has caused bills to be passed, schools to be built, businesses to prosper etc. Garitty said “We wanted our students to see that everybody can make a difference in the world.  You don't have to be older, richer, more educated.  You just have to be passionate about an issue and you can change the world.” 

Invisible Children supporters pledged to “speak out by not speaking” by being silent for 25 hours in order to raise money and awareness of this war. The 25 hours of silence represented the 25 years of war. According to the Invisible Children website, over 80,000 people participated in The 25 Campaign raising over $1.7 million.  Many students from McGee and Berlin High School and their families participated in the campaign. 

Garrity noted that “At this point, we are not exactly sure how much money was raised (at McGee and BHS) because a lot of people did the campaign via e-mail. I can say it was a significant amount. One thing I can say about McGee students is that they really do get passionate about helping out in many ways whenever there is a need.”  Participants in the campaign also wore specially designed t-shirts and distributed small informational cards to everyone they met to explain their silence and bring awareness to a wider base.

Donations made to Invisible Children are allocated to their various programs; Legacy Scholarship Fund, Mentorship Program, Schools for Schools, and Economic Development Initiatives. 

Their website states that “Although our primary goal is a peaceful solution to the end of this conflict, 50 percent of our programming budget is utilized in bringing awareness to the situation and promoting international support of the peace process taking place. The remaining 50 percent of our budget provides top-notch programming for affected children and their families in northern Uganda.  Our focus on the ground is developing a new generation of leaders in northern Uganda, and this is accomplished through the provision of educational scholarships, mentorship, and the rebuilding of secondary academic institutions.”

Garrity hopes that McGee will host Invisible Children again in the future, and open the event to adults and families in the community.  “It was an eye opening experience proving once again what Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

To view Invisible Children’s inspiring video library, learn more about the organization, or make a donation visit invisiblechildren.com.  “Like” them on Facebook too for up-to-date information.