Your Stories

Thoughts:
The film inspierd me.

Inspiration:
The film.

Tell People:
Everyone needs to know that there is an issue that needs to be addressed and people need to get the same spark I have. the spark to change the world.

Story:
After seeing the movie I was deeply inspired. I wrote a letter to the president, have plans to protest, my parents are behind me 100% which is very supportive and inspiring.

Thoughts:
it was wrenching -- it pushed and challenged me. it definitely shook me up -- but, sometimes that's what we need -- something that will finally just wake us up from our own ignorance and apathy.

Inspiration:
we started an organization / group here called "Jigsaw" basically working under the statement, "What would happen?" (if we really lived, really loved, really tried things His way). Feeling called to do something for Invisible Children, we wanted to react and fight back in a creative way (those darn college kids...). Thus, the wall. There is a method to our madness, though: -- people respond to people. it becomes more personal when you see a bunch of faces and not just a signature and a dollar. so, we have the photos. -- the movie: raises awareness. by promoting it locally, it's kind of different when you see a bunch of people you actually know involved in something. -- it's ongoing: there isn't a set date or time or week or month that people have to mark on their calendars -- it's a come whenever, how ever, just as long as you come kind of thing. -- plus, it's fun.. we were going for helping by doing something that people actually wanted to do. call us narcissistic, but it seems that us kids here in athens just like to take pictures of ourselves.

Tell People:
we DO care, and we're fighting back.

Story:
We are currently in the process of building our "Wall Against War." Located in Athens, GA (uga), we're constructing a brick wall with a painted logo in the middle (the picture of Africa with a heart in the center that's been floating around the myspace sites / groups, etc. see attached picture). We are currently gathering sponsors for our photo petition, so that for every photo of a person taken in front of this wall with the Africa logo, a dollar gets donated by that organization. We are also putting together a website for the petition (www.wallagainstwar.com), and will post the photos online, as well. A mini-documentary will be made to be posted on the website and be shown at several venues during concerts (you know, the in-between-artists time slot; this should actually gain a lot of attention because, in case you didn't know, our music scene -- 'it's kind of a big deal') to raise awareness and get people involved. We will be sending copies of the photos and the mini-video to the GA government officials (under the tagline, "Until you do something about it, we will") and to Invisible Children (along with the donations).

Thoughts:
I think it is amazing, moving, and as awakening as anything I've ever viewed.

Inspiration:
The student in charge of our FCA is also my roommate, and as followers of Christ we both felt that this movie had to be shown to anyone we had influence over, namely the people we lead at FCA. So we showed the film tonight, and I am starting to do things before the devil gets a foothold and I do nothing.

Tell People:
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by tasks such as these, but we much remember that to nothing out of fear, apathy, paralyzation of emotions, is no excuse. Real people are suffering in unimagineable ways, and we all can do something. We can pray, we give, we be actively backing something that is more worth while than 99% of the things that occupy our lives.

Story:
I am a 22 year old senior at the University of Missouri. I run track here, and I saw the movie at an FCA event. I was moved to write a poem about the invisible children. I don't plan on stopping there, and I pray God will be with me, moving me to continue to act, but my first reaction once I arrived back home from the movie was to write. I wanted to write my reactions and thoughts and concerns for the children. A poem is what I came up with, and I have sent it to you via your contact us link. I didn't know a better way to get it to you, and I figured this would work.

Thoughts:
I thought the film was very moving, It was the most intence movie i have ever seen, But it wasn't a bad intense movie it was a good intense, it opened my eyes. I felt really guilty for not knowing about the kids in Uganda.

Inspiration:
Seeing and hearing Jacob cry in the movie. His words saying to kill him opened my eyes.

Tell People:
Kids in Uganda cant even change their clothes, barely eat. While we are going on manjor shopping sprees and becoming fat.

Story:
So thats why i shared the Global Night Comute to kids all over my school. I told 4 different classes filled with 35 kids each. It opened their eyes and many will be particapating in writting a letter to our state senator and the Global Night Comute!!!

Thoughts:
I thought it was very well done, the way that it was structured and edited made the film extremely effective and really shows the world what it is that we are being shielded from. I think that this story needs to be spread throughout the world and this film is a great introduction to it all.

Inspiration:
Inspiration - our congregation is very supportive and encouraging towards the youth of the entire church and through this love we felt that we needed to give back to those that were less fortunate than us.

Tell People:
In the western world, we grow up believing and preaching that the children are the future of tomorrow. We often forget that these children are not limited to just those in the western worlds. There will always be people that are suffering and it is our duty to help those that are not capable of helping themselves and are in desperate need of our help.

Story:
Before even hearing about the "Invisible Children", a small group of young adults/youth from my church were putting together an Easter play and we decided that it would be great to ask for people to donate at least 3$ per person to watch the play. We told a lot of our friends as well as spread it throughout the congregation. We put on the production, had a very large turnout and we tried out best in informing others about this horrific tragedy.

Thoughts:
I thought it was sad how those kids were starving hurt or whatever thier problem was. But it was eye opening.

Inspiration:
my friends

Tell People:
That we can make a difference if we try every person counts.

Story:
my friend nathan had a shirt on that said my heart is beeping 4 the invisible children he told me what it ment.. then we got givin a research report on a propblem in the world so we picked this one. We have the movie and we plan on showing it on the day of our presentation and make flyers to show how people can help. now im doing screenings at my church.

Thoughts:
It has become a part of me. It is so moving, and I've told so many people about it and talk about it so much that people associate me with the film!

Inspiration:
The kids!!! I wanted to do anything and everything to tell/show people the horrible things happening over there, and how amazing and real these kids are. If people aren't aware of what's going on, they can't do anything. Now people don't have a reason to not do something.

Tell People:
TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE FILM!! DO SOMETHING!!

Story:
I've hosted two screenings at my school. The first one wasn't very successful, but the people who did come were moved to tears, not suprisingly. Motivated by the Ugandan children, I hosted another screening in my school's auditorium on Monday, April 24th, 2006, inviting teachers to bring their classes. We had six screenings in total, with between 200 and 500 students per presentation. I told people about the Global Night Commute and handed out flyers about it, with the hope that people would be as inspired as I was by the film and would sign up.

Thoughts:
A very touching story, it was shown as a free afterschool program. about 100 students and parents attended the showing and it moved alot of the people there and made them want to get invovled. i think the film is awsome! it was really sad but it makes you think about how my life is so good compared to them and how the children of ugandha have to live in fear each night hoping they dont get abducted. very good movie.

Inspiration:
I was inspired to tell everyone i know about the childrens' stories, and particpate in any way i can.

Tell People:
if u havent seen it. see it. dont watch it alone. bring as many people over to watch it.

Story:
I saw the movie and plan to help in any way. i am also gonna also participate in GNC.

Thoughts:
I have not seen the film yet but I am very moved by the story becasue I was once in that position in my life.

Inspiration:
Kofi Annan

Tell People:
The background on Srebrenica can be found here..http://www.pbs.org/wnet/cryfromthegrave/

Story:
My name is Adi and I was born in Sarajevo, the capital of what is now Bosnia. I lived in Bosnia until 1995 when I escaped due to genocide that was being carried out by the Serbs or who I call the "chetniks". The war in Bosnia was caused by a corrupt leader known as Slobodan Milosevic who wanted to exterminate the Muslim population in Sarajevo. I lived in the war from 1992 to 1995 at which time Sarajevo was under constant attack from the Serbian military. The Serbian military carried out ethnic cleansing throughout Bosnia, the worst ethnic cleansing was seen in Srebrenica. During the war my father and uncle fought in the Bosnian guerrilla forces who kept the Serbs out of Sarajevo and who volunteered like many of the men to protect the women and children of Bosnia from the Serbs at all costs. I lived 4 years in the war and to me the war became a part of life. Me and my friends collected shrapnel from exploded mortar rounds and compared who had the coolest looking peaces of shrapnel. My aunt escaped from Bosnia because she was given a chance by her Serbian coach to leave the war torn country only if she would run in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for the country of Yugoslavia. She was given 3 weeks to train in the war torn streets of Sarajevo. When she arrived in Barcelona her and 3 other athletes refused to run for Yugoslavia and told their Serbian coach that the only way they would run is if they ran for Bosnia as its own independent country. Their coach told them that if they wanted to participate they had to do it under the Yugoslavian flag. My aunt and the other 3 athletes went over their coach’s head and talked to the Olympic committee who gave them approval to run for Bosnia and not Yugoslavia. I remember watching the Olympics in the Sarajevo and seeing my aunt representing Bosnia as its own independent country for the first time in History. Because of her and the other 3 athletes the Bosnian war received much more coverage which led to intervention by the U.S. in 1995. I escaped from Bosnia 2 months before the war ended in the belly of a Hercules transport plane. We were dropped off in the country of Croatia where me my sister and my mom spent a year living in the streets while we waited for my aunt who had gotten U.S. citizenship to get us a visa into the U.S. I arrived in the U.S. with my mom and sister without my dad who had to stay in Bosnia and fight the war. I only had the clothes on my back and I spoke no English. Over the last 12 years I have acquired U.S. citizenship graduated from a Private high school where I received partial athletic and partial academic scholarships. I am going to be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where I hope to get my degree in Global Securities and Intelligence and eventually join the CIA and travel the world in order to stop leaders like Milosevic and Joseph Kony who use religion the justify their actions against mankind. My family who spent all four years of the war in the concentration camps and my dad survived the war. My uncle was missing and was later found in a mass grave in Srebrenica where he was identified by the necklace he was wearing. I have been back to Bosnia since the end of the war and everything has been rebuilt. But one thing that will never change is the memories that have been permanently engraved in my head from the war. Because of my experiences I have attempted to travel to different countries such as Uganda and Sudan and to tell the children and people of these areas that there is hope. Being a Muslim myself I am absolutely enraged when these so called liberation armies have the audacity to call themselves Muslim when they commit such horrific crimes in the name of Allah. I have tired to raise awareness and to travel to these countries but have not been able to due to the tight budget of my schooling. am hopping to get more involved but I am not sure how. I would appreciate any input on how to get started and I offer my help in any way to get the message out. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story.

Thoughts:
I think the flim is amazing and powerful. I had no idea going to see a movie on the lawn of our school would change my life. After seeing it, I just sat and cried for a long time and then I looked at my friend and told her that it was good I was already planning on taking next year off because after seeing the flim I would have done it anyway. The film doesn't leave you feeling hopeless but inspired and energized and very very lucky.

Inspiration:
Inspiration came from seeing the film. I knew I'd want to work with IC but I didn't want to wait so within 2 days we had our fake prom, did the rock lobster and made some money!

Tell People:
Please give an hour of your time. Watch this movie and then tell me you are too busy to do anything about it...

Story:
I was organizing a hall program in my dorm to do a 1980's style prom and after seeing the flim I asked my RA if I could turn it into a fundraiser for IC. We charged $2 at the door and invited everyone. We had a huge turnout and made over $100 in a night. I'm moving back to Colorado and I want to get on an R.V, go to Uganda, show the film to everyone I know in Denver etc. My sister is a high school teacher at the neighboring school to Columbine and I sent her a DVD and she is going to show it to her school and try and get Columbine involved as well. The 80's prom was amazing though.