Invisible Children

On September 29, during Redeemer’s weekly chapel session, students and staff listened to a presentation by members of Invisible Children, a humanitarian group focused on ending the long running civil war in Uganda. Students learned that the war between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army had been going on for 23 years, leaving millions of people across four countries displaced and afraid. Further compounding the problem is the LRA’s practice of abducting children and training them as soldiers. It is estimated that since 1986, the group has forced an estimated 10,000 children to take up arms, often killing parents and schoolteachers during the abduction process.

Invisible Children was formed in 2003 in response to this long running war, aimed at raising awareness in the west of the war and its effects and at lobbying first world governments to take action against the LRA. In addition, they employ a Ugandan ground staff in that country that works to rebuild infrastructure damaged by war and improve Uganda’s education system with books, teachers, mentors, improved school facilities, and scholarships for Uganda’s future leaders.

Along with traveling to promote their cause and
asking for donations at various events, Invisible Children raises money through book drives conducted in partnership with Better World Books, a non-profit company that collects and sells books to raise money for various literacy based organizations including Invisible Children.

First year Redeemer student Nicole Shaver has organized a book drive here on campus. Better World Books has provided large green boxes, placed outside of the library, next to the book store, and by William’s, for students and faculty to drop books into. The boxes, shipping, and other book drive expenses are covered by Better World Books, so contributors can rest assured that all of the proceeds from the sale of their donated books will go directly to Invisible Children.

The drive has been initially successful thus far. Donations have been coming in slowly and are expected to pick up as the semester winds down. Students are being encouraged to bring in unwanted books for donation. Textbooks are best, but any book in decent condition will make a direct and measurable difference in the lives of children in Uganda.