This is Kristy Zhen and I'll be posting info about IC's Invisible Children club.
First things first, Invisible Children is an international non-profit organization that helps raise awareness about child soldiers and the war-torn areas in Uganda and the Congo. It also raises money to help the devastated communities affected by the war that has lasted 23 years. Invisible Children has helped rebuilt schools, provided almost 900 scholarships to students, implemented micro-economic initiatives as well as other programs to help these communities.
Secondly, IC's Invisible Children club is new to Ithaca Club. So they are looking for members who are interested in supporting the organization as well as helping raise awareness about the club and its motives. The club usually meets on Thursdays at around 7 pm. If you'd like to join, shoot an email to invisiblechildrenic@gmail.com.
WHY INVISIBLE CHILDREN WAS CREATED
In the 1980s, the Holy Spirit Movement was formed by a woman named Alice Lakwena along with her followers to overthrow the Government of Uganda (GoU). The movement gained momentum as resentment toward the government increased. When Lakwena was exiled, Joseph Kony took control and transformed the rebel army into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA then started abducting children and indoctrinating them into their ranks. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA's troops were abducted as children.
In 1996, in response to LRA attacks on villages, the GoU forcibly evicted and relocated thousands of people into camps as a form of protection. However, it's been over a decade and roughly one million individuals still live in these camps and struggle with poverty, disease, and starvation.
In 2003, "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" a documentary about Uganda's night commuters and child soldiers was created. The organization was created from the overwhelming response of people wanting to help after watching the documentary.
UGANDA TODAY
In 2005, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Kony and his top four commanders.
Between June 2006 and March 2008, the LRA and GoU have engaged in peace talks but final peace agreement has not been signed.
On December 24, 2008, the LRA attacked the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 600 and abducting more than 160 children.
The LRA Disarmament Bill passed but not all representatives have been signed on it. Go to http://www.invisiblechildren.com/obama and fill in your zipcode to look up representatives from your state who have and have not signed the bill.
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