Invisible Children - Invisible Children

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So you’ve heard about what’s happening and want to help. Brilliant. You’ve come to the right place. Invisible Children is all about using who we are to meet people where they are, every individual doing what they can to make a difference. While there’s no step-by-step process on how to help, here are a few proven ways to use your time, talent, and money to make an impact.

1. Take the Lead:

Set up an Invisible Children club. Act as the leader, overseer, motivator, lighthouse. Develop your vision of how to help these children and people will follow your guiding light. Lead them well. You are like Peter Parker before he realizes he’s truly Spiderman. You have super powers that can help so many people—now you just have to figure out how to use them. Assemble a team. Join Schools for Schools. Set goals. Use your time and talent to find creative ways to raise awareness.

2. Come and See.

The entire Invisible Children movement came from a movie, so if you want to start a revolution you first have to get people to come and see it. THINK BIG. Your classroom is cool; your whole school is AHHHW-SOME. Pack ‘em into your living room, church hall, or local movie house. If Britney can still fill a stadium, so can you! Show the movie as many times and places as you can. Go here to find out how to book the roadies or host a screening.

3. Gab and Ramble.

Now is the time to call club leaders, co-workers, coaches, that girl in your math class, that boy from the DQ, priests, pastors, maharajas, mentors, counselors, student council, roommates, life mates, first mates, chess check-mates, even your crazy Uncle Harold who always smells like ketchup and mumbles constantly about the 1986 World Series. Write a letter to Oprah or the president or both. Go to the paper—local or school. Spread the word. Start a conversation.

4. Create It.

You have a gift; now is the time to unwrap it. Stir. Move. Draw. Paint. Trace. Photograph. Lithograph. Sculpt. If the film moves you, show us how. Get your art class or your artistic friends or do it alone. Hang, show, or even sell your work. Take action by having an auction. Express yourself.

5. Be Faux Paparazzi.

You all see what we cannot. You’re our eyes and ears. Our tigers on the prowl. You’re proof that things are moving in your town. So dust off your super-sweet Super 8, camcorder, Polaroid, or digital camera, and get your pen a scribblin’. Run after all events and capture it. We want to post your pictures on our website, and possibly put your footage in the final cut of our movie! We would be stoked and honored to have your stuff.

6. Duke it Out.

The walk of a thousand miles begins with one step. Organize that step. From dodge ball tourneys and cycling across America to dance marathons, jog-a-thons, and sponsored jump rope-a-thons, create events catered to helping others. Run Forest… RUUUUUN. Except this time, go somewhere with a purpose.

7. Be Fashion Forward.

Raise awareness, financial aid, and beautify the world by creating hats, pins, ties, bags, and t-shirts. Now is your chance to help the children in northern Uganda and the fashion-challenged everywhere. Get creative; get crazy. Now is the time to bust out the glue gun, scissors, and sewing kit. Rally your friends, put on some good tunes, and start stitching. Global thinking is the new tre-chic. I.C. is the new UGG. Africa is the new pink. Exchange fashion for compassion.

8. Make Some Music.

Get together a couple of your favorite big local bands or your own band for a sweet concert. Lip-sync and air guitar competitions work too. We don’t care. We saw 8-Mile; we know rap-offs are out there. Call Bono if you’re feeling saucy. Invite all of them to a screening of the film or send them a copy of it. Then, get a sick venue donated and set up a benefit concert for the kiddos here to help the kiddos there. Pass out fliers. Hang up posters. Get merch to sell. Charge a small fee at the door and make the show worth it.

9. Don an Apron.

Let’s all learn a lesson from the Girl Scouts and church ladies—cookies sell themselves. Set up a booth or go door-to-door if you must. Not a cook? You can still get in the kitchen! Go to local restaurants or bars and have them do a benefit where on one day, a certain percentage of the proceeds go to the kids in northern Uganda. Empower your local businesses to effect change and give back to others.

10. Sell It.

Do you find your life filled with excess clutter? When was the last time you wore that sweater? Do you really know what’s under your bed? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And don’t get us started on the possibilities with E-Bay. Your job is easy; set up a rummage sale; live simply so others can simply live. Recycle. Reuse. Resell.