The Numbers Game
April 16th, 2008Invisible Children has never been about the numbers in Uganda. We are about the people, the individuals, and how we can have the greatest impact on their lives and their personal stories so that they, in turn, can have the greatest effect on their communities and their country. IC has very intentionally invested in the few with the greatest potential, so we can unquestionably say that it’s not about numbers in Uganda.
BUT, if it was…this is what it would look like:
-690 secondary school students receiving scholarships from across Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, and Pader; each with a Ugandan mentor, being given the opportunity and guidance needed to become the next leaders
-60 university students receiving scholarships in Uganda (as of fall ‘08), 40 girls and 20 guys from impoverished communities, who are also receiving the academic advising necessary to succeed and transform their lives and those around them
-1 university student in the US. She will be attending Boise State in the Fall ‘08 to pilot international scholarships.
-179 bracelet makers, trained in savings and investment, supporting their families and reinvesting their money into programs that stimulate economic growth in their communities
-10 child mothers making handbags, soon to be trained in savings and investment, supporting their families and rising out of extreme poverty
-90 staff members, each giving back to their community while simultaneously earning a great income to support their entire families.
That’s a total of 1,030 people whose lives will never be the same. Not only that, they are each being invested in so heavily that their families will never be the same. Here is where it gets crazy. The average woman in Uganda has nearly 7 children. Yes, 7. It’s the 8th fastest growing population in the world. Using a conservative estimate we could say that the people listed above have an average family size of 7. Knowing that each of these people is transforming their family’s situation, that’s over 7,000 people whose lives are being changed through IC in a fairly direct way. And that’s before Schools for Schools.
At this moment, Schools for Schools is changing the future for around 8,400 kids in ten schools.
If you add that to the total above, without even factoring in the S4S kids’ families, that’s over 15,000 people that are tangibly affected by IC, many of whom will take on leadership positions, create growth and healing in their communities, and cause impact and change in Uganda that we will never even be able to measure. 15,000—that number doesn’t even count any extended family, friends, and neighbors who are finding support through members of the IC network.
Lives are being changed from all angles on all ends in some crazy ways, and it’s rad to think that this is still just the beginning.
-Adam Finck
Invisible Children’s Mission Director
April 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Amazing. Truly. It’s so inspiring to read things like this. Keep it up!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
awesome! one life at a time…it’s all worth it!
April 17th, 2008 at 6:30 am
This is great, thanks for posting this Adam… it’s great information to have for people who want some numbers!
April 18th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Fantastic
This is so awesome.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
YES!!!!!!!!! This is completely amazing!
We are changing the world and there is no turning back now!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:57 am
please… don’t play the numbers game.
we(ugandans) are human beings. and don’t think that you can say you help 15,000 people, please don’t. you have no capacity to even judge 1 of those people. yes you MAY be helping a few people, but to what capacity is beyond anything you can attempt. as a human your assesment of a situation is not nessarily it’s highest and truest evaluation. playing the number game only reduces your soul power.
ugandans are wonderfull people, uganda is a beautiful country… how come when i go on your website(not this blog) everything is black and evil looking? why are all the photographs and shots you have of children taking away their dignity? making people feel sorry for them? the average uganda is probably happier than the average american… yet you don’t see us treating you in this way.
don’t feel like you have everything to give and we have nothing. in most cases americans who come to uganda leave feeling like the ugandans taught them more!
you can not change the world with this mentality. i have seen you guys opperating from the begining here in uganda… some good things have happened because of your presence, BUT, you have ALOT to learn.
give us our dignity back. stop painting us as victims to further your own image. learn(really, really) that we have as much charity to give you as you do us.
allow God to be God, and give him the glory.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Steven
You are so right Ugandans are beautiful people, and so is Uganda. Actually I would say Uganda is one of the most spectacular countries, and when someone visits Uganda I think they cannot help but forever impacted. And thats a testament to the spirit of Uganda I believe are trying to articulate, which is undeniable, just as undeniable is the fact Africa’s longest running is also taking place in this amazing place and about 1.8 million peoples live hoods hang in the balance.
So I believe that if anything is taking away anyones dignity, its this war. I think its bankrupt that somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 kids have been abducted and mostly unaccounted for, with an additional 800-1500 still stuck in forced servitude. I think its inhumane that 1.8 million people live in squalid conditions dependent on handouts to survive, for the last 20 years. So take a camera to Northern Uganda to the IDP camps and post what you come back with, take a camera to Garamba forest were the child soldiers are being held and post the photos. I don’t think its going to be all smiles and photo book material. I don’t know about everyone at IC, but I believe its a motto of theres to always listen and always be willing to change and bring inspiration to individuals to strive for peace.
IC isn’t perfect but I think they are honest and forthcoming if they do make a mistake, and I think they will change the world. It always starts with hope and passion, so come on steven jump on the train and lets ride this sweet ass ride together. And I think black happens to be beautiful and elegant and the only thing evil is Kony.
Peace (really, really)
Fitzgerald
May 16th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
thanks for your comment steven. i agree. Ugandans aren’t numbers. we’re people just like everybody else. IC needs to stop counting and start seeing what you’re really doing. you are affecting some people positively but you’re also on the path of no return. peoples lives are in your hands and you seem to forget that. stop thinking about yourselves and YOUR image and start thinking about the people you claim to be helping. it is only when you stop to trying to help yourself that you really begin helping others. it is just this sort of self-serving black hole that so many NGOs fall into. I was just like many of you….i thought IC was different. its not. its the same. first hand, i can tell you…invisible children is NOT what it claims to be. tell the truth about what youre doing.
…and the truth shall set you free.