Your Stories

Thoughts:
It was so touching! Usually I watch films like that, donate a little here and there, but this one I had to help out with. I knew I had to contribute more then just a couple of bucks.

Inspiration:
Not sure...I guess just school

Tell People:
HELP! Please anything little things u can do!

Story:
I'm in World Cultures at West Aurora H.S. After watching your film a couple of the classes are making bracelets to raise money for the Invisible Children. Since it's such a success we're actually forming a club to make it a more official and permanent thing. I want to take it even further. Beyond the walls and grounds of West Aurora. Later on towards the end of the year we're even having the all night walk.

Thoughts:
Some parts were funny and some parts were very sad and made me want to cry just thinking about it!

Inspiration:
I just thought for a couple of minutes if that was me living there i would want someone to help me too.

Tell People:
To start their own club to help the children. When you have accomplished it you will feel proud like i will.

Story:
I got inspired! I will start a club of the invisible children in my school.

Thoughts:
I love the film. I had a slight knowledge of what IC was, but when I started watching the film I fell apart and started crying, I have now seen the film two times and will be watching it several more.

Inspiration:
I want to spread the word. I myself, had never heard of Darfur until 5 months ago, and it really hit home for some reason. I want others to know what is going on, and maybe try our best to stop it.

Tell People:
Next year will be my senior year in highschool, I am able to graduate 1 semester early. Because of this, my mother has agreed for me to go to Africa or another country for the 2nd semester in order to learn more, help out, and maybe find someone else's story.

Story:
I'm a middle/lower class teen that lives in the suburbs of minneapolis, MN. I have lived in seven states including SanDiego, CA. I have been homeless and know what its like, but I've also had good times where money wasn't an object. I've seen both sides. Now that I've learned more about Darfur, and Sudan, and Uganda, I just want to help everyone as much as possible.

Thoughts:
The film was like nothing I had ever seen. It was so eye-opening to me and revealed a world so different from my own. It was moving, inspiring, and heart-breaking.

Inspiration:
I saw it at a SIPA convention and I am going to screen it at my church and at my school (and hopefully help screen it at other churches and schools as well). Some friends and I had the idea to put on benefit concerts via the choirs, bands, and orchestras at our school.

Tell People:
Stop sitting and watching. Get up and run. Change the world--WE CAN. It is not impossible. I once heard, "Poverty could be history. But it won't." I think that will hold true if we keep living with the American-Dream mentality. Get out there. You can SAVE a LIFE. You can provide for someone. It's so much more than worth it. We need to help, not because we are superior, but because we are brothers and sisters.

Story:
I was going to a SIPA journalism convention and was totally dreading it. I didn't want to have to hear the typical cliche lectures about how to be a leader, about media ethics and all the stuff I had heard at every other convention. It was completely God's will and plan that Invisible Children was screened the first night. Previously I knew I was going to be a photojournalism in the mission field, but I had recently been having doubts because I thought I was going to be bored by journalism--left without passion, doing stories that meant nothing to me. When SIPA came and I saw the documentary, I realized photojournalism was what God definitely wanted me to do. It left me with a passion I had never had before--that I, one person, could stand up and do something. Not just sit and watch and be emotionally moved, but stand up and change and be physically moved by something--and consequently, to move others. My heart absolutely aches for the children who have been taken from their homes, only to be forced into emotionless killing machines. Where has America been all this time? What has America done to help? Materialistically, we have so much. Compassionately, we often have so little because our selfishness is so much bigger. We have so much and we cling to it. We don't need it. We say how much we hate school, but people around the world would do literally anything to soak up knowledge they can't get on their own. Invisible Children not only convicted me, but made me want to do something. And not only that... but I AM doing something, and will continue to for the rest of my life--whether through donations, sending people to other countries, going to other countries, publishing a book of photography and documentation... I am going to do it. Definitely. I have a huge place in this world, and I won't let it go. I will not be apathetic. As soon as the documentary was done, I wrote a list down of places I could contact, of things I could do. I pledged to call the White House everyday. My voice will be heard. I wrote down a slew of interview questions for the invisible children, for people who work for IC, for people who have seen IC, and people who haven't. This issue for my school newspaper was the first time I ever had a spread--three pages, actually. I had been wanting a spread all year, and finally I got one. I got a sports feature on a girl at our school who boxes. When I called her the night SIPA started (before I saw IC), she said she didn't want to do it. I was shocked and freaked out--my story was due Wednesday! Four days! And I didn't even know what it would be. After I saw IC, I knew that was what I was going to write about. Three pages devoted to the biggest, most important thing we had ever written about. Ecstatic doesn't even describe it. Grateful doesn't even describe it. Ready. I am ready. That describes it.

Thoughts:
I thought it was one of the best films I have ever seen. It is a movie of our generation. An opportunity for us to stand up, and to take action.

Inspiration:
After I had seen the film, I knew I had to do something. I am now the UW Invisibile Children club director.

Tell People:
I remember the first time I saw the film. I had been in my room, complaining to my roommate that I was in a "rutt". I was having boyfriend issues, money issues, and I was stressed out. As if it had been planned out previously, I left my room to see what my friends were watching in the lounge. I sat down a few minutes into the movie, and was captivated. It put my whole life into perspective. People need to know that you can make a difference. Our lives may be hectic at times, but we are so lucky for the country we live in, and our opportunities.

Story:
Last year, a group of students at my school (University of Washington) got together to promote a screening of Invisible Children. We had no idea if people would come. For weeks we got up early and placed advertisements of the screening everywhere. It was freezing and so early, but we knew our mission. On the day of the screening, we were simply hoping to fill atleast half of the auditorium. To our surprise, the line for the screening went outside of the building. People began lining up an hour or more before the doors opened. We had two screenings in a row, and both screenings were standing room only. After the movie, the merchandise table was overwhlemed by the amount of people. Many products sold out within a matter of minutes. People began donating money. It was an amazing night. One that I will never forget.

Thoughts:
I LOVED the film!! It was truly inspirational for me and made me not only think of this cause, but of other causes, and how much evil is going on throughout the world.

Inspiration:
Well, I saw it on a retreat, and I did because we just heard that some film was being shown during free time, so we decided to go see it. I'm so glad we did!!

Tell People:
I just want to say that if you haven't seen the film, you should!! And you should definitely go to the Displace Me event if you can, I'll be there!!

Story:
I first saw the film in the fall of 2005, and I think it was still pretty new then. I saw it with my friend, Lisa, and my youth pastor, Jeff, at a retreat. We were touched by the film and brought it to our church. My friend Lisa and I then got a couple of friends and went to the Global Night Commute. That was really really amazing!! I can't wait to get the book!!

Thoughts:
I absolutely loved it, it was amazing to watch!

Inspiration:
The movie and just wanting to act and do all I can

Tell People:
that Invisible Children is the best and that I wish teens could be interested.

Story:
I actually first saw it a couple years ago and decied to maybe just follow the story and now there is the tour! I called them up talked to meg and got a screening booked. I had a story about me in the newspaper and that day of the screening I took the team to the radio station of my friends so I got alot awareness for the Invisible Children and I'm also just a teenager in junior high.

Thoughts:
The IC film broke my heart but inspired me at the same time.

Inspiration:
The children on the video who have nothing but the hope of help, and the creaters of the movement, Bobby, Jason, and Laren, for trying to make a diffrence.

Tell People:
You can make a diffrence too!

Story:
Every year me and my friends spend probably close to $100 on all the christmas present we give each other. After seeing the IC film we all thought this was abosolutly rediculous and was a complete waste of money. Instead we decided that we have a big christmas dinner party with a caterer and everyone bring $30 to donate($10 for the caterer, $20 to IC) to a chartity of our choice. which was of course IC. Christmas is about giving and recieving, but giving seemed so much better in our eyes this time. We all felt great and very grown up, now that we've finnally relized how to give back especially when its to something we all feel so passionitlly for.

Thoughts:
I thought it was really emotional. I was really touched by it! I thought the boys were brave enough to do this and they are really something for doing somthing about it.

Inspiration:
I wanted to get more people involved and I wanted to do something about the genocide.

Tell People:
I want to tell people that they should get involve with stuff like this. It not only looks good on you but you can feel good about it. Just put yourself in those kids shoes. Would you like that? if not then do something about it!

Story:
I am a Senior at Santa Fe High and we have what is called a senior project and we have to prove something and I'm proving how America ignores genocides in other countries, mostly Africa. So me and three other students have started a club and we are planning a club and a dodgeball tournment. At these events will be food provided so we can get more money to start it. We have about 30 possibly more students involved in our club and there is a fee to enter so we can atleast get it started with the screening.

Thoughts:
I thought it was incredible. I couldn't get over the fact that this war had gone unknown for so long. I was disappointed with my culture and country for prioritizing capitalism over human dignity and freedom.

Inspiration:
Meeting former child soldiers, and seeing the joy in their lives after being apart of ministries like IC and World Vision

Tell People:
Keep spreading the news, and don't forget that there are children who are experiencing freedom because of our work!!!

Story:
I first saw the IC rough cut video at my school (North Central UIniversity, MN). I was already signed up for a summer course/missions trip to Uganda, and our professor required us all to attend after a 4 hour background session on the roots of the problem and a more indepth look at what was really going on. I was impressed with IC's ability to spread the word and raise awareness amidst a culture which focuses on selfishness instead of selflessness. I asked the Road team to do a special screening the next night on my floor, because I lead a discipleship group and wanted to give people a second chance to view the film. As I said before, I was already involved with preparing to go to Uganda, and the film sparked a desire and passion that was needed for my trip. over the next few months, I arranged viewings at my school, church, and hometown. Finally on May 8th, I left Minnesota and flew into Kampala!! I spent 2 1/2 weeks living in a Mud Hut in North Eastern Uganda, where I studied culture and language with the Bagisu Tribe. After my time with them, I traveled to Northern Uganda (Lira) and worked with a Church run by Ugandan's that ministered to children living on the streets who had either been previous child soldiers and escaped or had lost their families as a result of the raids. My time with these kids was both inspiring and heart wrenching. It was difficult to hear what they were forced to endure, and inspiring to see how God had already restored so much in such little time. I came back to Minnesota a different person. I have been forever changed by my experience and by the touch that those kids left on my life. My IC story is one of change and purpose. I believe in the great commission, and I want to make sure that vulnerable children are not left out of the part about loving your neighbor as your self. Since my time in Uganda, I have spoken at a benefit show, which raised money for IC, I have raised financial support for those kids I worked with in Lira, and am now getting ready to go back to Uganda, and work with those kids for 3 months this summer. As I said before, God gave me purpose in my ministry, and IC helped inspire that purpose!