Your Stories

Thoughts:
Moved my life like nothing else ever has. I was moved to do something but didn't know what I could do all by myself so I talked to a few friends at school and they agreed to make a difference with me.

Inspiration:
The pull God put on our hearts for the children of Northern Uganda. Knowing that this is what God wanted us to do, we were meant to make an impact in our school in this way and by following God we are going to do just that.

Tell People:
GET OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING!!!

Story:
After talking to those couple friends I am one of the two leaders for a new club on my Palm Beach Atlantic University campus called Voices for Invisible Children. It was just established in March of 2007 so not much has been done yet since it was the end of the year. We just wanted to get people aware that there was now an IC ministry on campus and that this coming year we are planning on doing many things, including participating in Schools for Schools.

Thoughts:
I thought it was inspiring, heart-breakingingly honest, and motivating. The fact that kids my age could watch the whole documentary once without playing paper football or writing notes really speaks to me; the whole time, their eyes were glued on the screen, their minds on the stories.

Inspiration:
My inspiration was that the night I went into the Invisible Children screening, I expected to come out feeling bad about how well-off I was and how I should feel more grateful (overall, that would be a negative event). But I came out feeling the urge, the need to do something, to do my part.

Tell People:
Be open to be moved.

Story:
When I saw this moving film last year (I was in 7th grade), I wanted others to know. So I bought the film and showed it to my class. That year, our grade alone (made up of a lttle under 40 kids) brought in over $400. This past year (8th grade) I picked up just where we left off. In 6 weeks time, in a Catholic grade school of K-8, around 350 kids, we raised over $1500. This is very impressive, seeing as how we had 2 other major fundraisers earlier on in the year. We went around to every class, either showing them the documentary, or the bracelet films, or just telling the story (according to age groups). The kids could actually relate to this project, because it was for kids just like them. We collected each week and sent papers home in our Thursday envelope. One day, we had a "Get-Out-Of-Uniform Day" if you donated $2 or more from that point on. It was great, and I saw many kids wearing IC bracelets in the weeks after.

Thoughts:
It is incredibly powerful and easily viewable by most audiences. The three filmmakers make it engaging and relatable for high school students before diving them into the sad and disturbing issue that the film is really about. The film itself is very well done, and the information and stories it shares is unforgettable.

Inspiration:
It is a situation we do not know, a kind of life we do not know, but it is one we all ought to know about, and hopefully some of us will want to try to make it better too. The more people who know, the more people who will try to make a difference.

Tell People:
Anything that really matters, get the issue into the high schools and colleges, because there are so many young people who need something to care about, and, like the invisible children, there are so many issues worth caring about. As the three former students who created the film clearly show, students are a force with great creativity and energy. Teach them, and they can affect change.

Story:
I had seen this film before, but a few months ago I went to a second showing that happened to be put on by the World Injustice Awareness Club on my campus, in collaboration with the Invisible Children Organization, as part of your national tour of screenings. At the time I had just finished my student teaching at a local high school, and was still really connected to the students and staff there. Knowing the president of the club, I told him I wanted to buy a copy so that I could show it to these students. He had gotten a couple free copies from the tour, so he gave me one. Since that event, I have lent the film to multiple teachers in the school, the most recent showing it four times (both in class and as after school programs) in the last two weeks. This has greatly increased the numbers of students who are now exposed to this issue that they had known so little about before, and they are deeply affected. Teachers have told me students want to create their own events, both to raise money and to show the film to their other social circles. Following one of these school viewings, one student made an announcement about it at her church and had the whole church pray for the children in Uganda. She, like many others, now want to get ahold of this film to spread the word of the invisible children.

Thoughts:
I cried through the whole film it really touches you it makes you want to do somethilng about it.

Inspiration:
To tell everybody to act and do something about it.

Tell People:
That they should watch the film.

Story:
That I am going to tell everybody about it and have them watch it.

Thoughts:
I love it and it made me want to go and adopt all the kids

Inspiration:
It was to get everyone in our little community to wake up a realize that life isnt perfect.

Tell People:
yeah, Keep your goals high. Even if your fundraiser just sucks and doesnt raise nearly as much as you planned its something. Always remember to follow through on plans and to be as passionate about the program from the start to the end.

Story:
When I saw the movie it was on a band tour. After the band got back, one of the teachers wanted to show the movie to the whole school. The school ended up seeing the movie and the road crew came. We set up a group of leaders and joined the schools for schools program. Usually our school is known for its clicks but after getting involved with the s4s program it was like everyone forgot about what was happening and just focused on raising money. After 34 days of fundraising our school won for our cluster and we now get to send 3 people to Uganda. I thought this was so amazing our school got its school spirit back and helped kids.

Thoughts:
the film is great! i will have a screening, someday soon i hope. i am going to show it to my home group.

Inspiration:
my wife and I have a heart for Africa, we want to make a difference there, and it is very awesome to see the change it has made in your hearts and lives, as it has made that same change in us as well.

Tell People:
no matter how much you do, anything at all will make a difference in someone's life! we also sponsor a child in ethiopia, and while there we went ot meet his family, we were blown away by the difference it can make from just $30 a month!!!!

Story:
my wife and i just finished adopting twins from ethiopia, and we have completed one adoption previously with our 4 year old. we have 4 children, we are very busy, we are still involved in our church, and other ministries. I am also planning a trip to rwanda next year to do some missionary work with Food for the Hungry.

Thoughts:
I absolutely loved it. I cried about 10 times the first time I saw it.

Inspiration:
I was astonished at the fact that NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, knew about Uganda or Darfur.

Tell People:
One person can make a difference.

Story:
I started my own nonprofit called AFRiCA AWARE based on education concerning Uganda and Darfur. In April, I skipped my prom in order to attend Displace Me in Chicago, which was the same day.

Thoughts:
The film is undeniable, you can not walk away with the same outlook on our planet as you had going in. you are forced to throw away your ignorance and face the fact that you must in act change in your life to in act change in our world.

Inspiration:
I think my inspiration stemed most from the part where the boys are studying in the wet basement under the candle light... I was never a very dedicated student and realized in that moment how much opportunity I had taken for granted. I had heard a quote that said "live simply so others can simply live." I try every day now to live my life by those words and do my part for the people of this world we live in.

Tell People:
I don't know the exact quote but Ghandi said something along the lines of " we must be the change we wish to see in the world." remember that as one person you can make a difference and if you don't who will?

Story:
When I saw on your website the short film that started with something along the lines of " our generation will be remembered for three things, 1. the war on terror, 2. the digital revelution and 3. what we did or didnt do to help Africa..." you had me. your website and film gave regular people ways to make a difference. you were able to make me feel like what effort I made would make a difference. This was the call I was waiting for. I always felt like I needed to do something and never knew where to start. I am from Canada and currently working in California, as soon as I saw the film I sent copies back home to all the high schools I had contact with and did my best to spread the word.

Thoughts:
It was inspiring and opened my eyes to true disasters and chaos.

Inspiration:
The hope for the future and peace.

Tell People:
I am a believer in peace.

Story:
My name is Daieny and I am 12, and turning 13 next month. I went to a warped tour last week and bought your DVD. I watched it today and I was very inspired. In this whole year, starting to June 29, 2008, I will try to raise, hopefully, a thousand dollars. It is a big expection but I have big dreams and hope for the Invisible Children. I have asked already one person to donate, and he too was inspired for the hope of education in kids and donated $10. Hopefully more people will be inspired and donate to give hope for the Invisible Children.

Thoughts:
The film not only touched my heart the few times I watched it, it also left an impression. Few causes have done that for me. It was inspirational for me to see three college age guys taking notice of something outside of the bubble many of us form for ourselves here in the United States and deciding to do something about it. The film asked me to remember the children. It took me two years to figure out what to do about it, but I did remember them. That is unique.

Inspiration:
Broadway Cares: Equity Fights Aids was much of my inspiration. Performing artists have gifts for a reason.

Tell People:
Use what you have. Use what you have and take it to another level. It took a lot of time and patience to pull twenty high schoolers, a theatre, an audience, a costumer, a director and volunteers together, but it all happened. People care more than you would think.

Story:
My name is Tara Logan I am 17 years old and am a senior at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara California . I first learned about Invisible Children through my youth group at Santa Barbara Community Church two years ago. In the spring of this year my friends and I started talking about putting together a summer production of the Broadway musical Seussical. We are all very active in the theatre arts department of our local high school- San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara . While talking we thought it would be great to use the production to raise funds for Invisible Children in some way. We came up with the idea of having a HUGE (like Horton the elephant) Bake Sale and some other fun activities at intermission. We approached a local childrens theatre company in Santa Barbara-Showstoppers Theatre Productions a program we had all been involved with in the past and they agreed to donate their time and resources to make the event a reality. The performances were June 29 and June 30 2007 and I am happy to say we raised over $2600 for Invisible Children.