Your Stories

Thoughts:
Well worth watching, compelling

Inspiration:
Inspiration -- We were inspired to show the film to our 8th graders to open their eyes to what's going on in the world and to provide them with an opoprtunity to lead and make a difference.

Tell People:
About how my 8th graders put on such an amazing event.

Story:
I oversee a youth mentoring program at Circle-Rock Prep School, an urban, Christian elementary school in Chicago. We showed the film to students involved in 8th Grade Team Mentoring and let the students decide whether they would like to raise money for the IC,and if so, how. They definitley wanted to do something to help, so they organized an 8th grade vs, 7th grade basketball game. Admission to the game was free, but they had a concession stand (they got their parents to donate most of the food), sold bracelets that they made with a little write-up about the IC, and held a Pie-in-the-face raffle. With the raffle, winners were drawn at half time and got to pick any 8th grader to put a pie in their face. It was a lot of fun; we were really proud of the leadership and service demonstrated by these kids, and in the end, they raised about $275.00 for IC. The best student-led fund-rasier I've seen.

Thoughts:
Moving. It got the point across and I believe it touched everyone in the room.

Inspiration:
Inspiration was God.

Tell People:
We are all one in this world. We all have hearts and minds and some of the greatest and most beautifull hearts and minds are being neglected.

Story:
My name is Ken Breen. I am 16 years old and I live in Simi Valley California. I am a Junior at Simi Valley High School and have played on the basketball team for 3 years. I am a strong Christian and have been all my life. I first heard about the Invisible Children on the Oprah show. I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks, and then you guys showed up at my school to get the word out there. I believe God has sent me a sign to help. I have many selling and advertising skills and know most of my city of Simi Valley. I can put together fundraisers such as car washes, walks, and jog a-thons. I have a team ready to go door to door handing out flyers to help the Invisible Children. I know I am young but I believe I can make a difference. Thank you. You touched my heart now its my turn to touch others hearts.

Thoughts:
I thought that it was moving and that i wish more people could know about Uganda.

Inspiration:
Inspiration the children and God pushing me.

Tell People:
to get invloved and to listen to your heart because God is in there.

Story:
We were sitting in church one Sunday and a college student who went to our church for awhile came up and talked about this dvd later in youth group our leaders was talking about then we all watched the movie and just was speechless then after see the kids walk miles and to know that we could make a difference we stated to plan what we should do know we all walked on April 29 know at our school Forest HIlls Central high we have a news program and they broadcasted that there would be a walk and more than 30 people showed know I can't believe how many people know about this it is truely God sent!

Thoughts:
It was amazing and life changing. It makes you think twice before you complain about your life and the things you don't have.

Inspiration:
After seeing the movie and talking to friends, I realized how dumb I was to complain. I have so much compared to these kids, yet my attitude sucks. I want the attitude of these kids.

Tell People:
See the movie...and do something!

Story:
I have seen the movie three times now, all within the last month. Our Senior English teacher has given us an assignment to try and help out someone. We, a group of about 20, have decided to put on a benefit concert. We are hopefully going to have the concert at Rancho Community Church in Temecula, California. We plan on passing out flyers at school and in the community. We are also going to have a bake sale at the concert, and ask for donations. All the proceeds will be sent to you, so you can use it to help the kids in Uganda. We are also going to show clips of your movie to the audience. Our hope is that the audience will be impacted like us and will want to help out in any way they can. We have a lot to do in a litle time, but we plan on getting it done to help these children.

Thoughts:
It was definately emotional to say the least, but it did not leave you feeling depressed and helpless at the end. It inspires change and action rather than pity and laziness.

Inspiration:
The IC film

Tell People:
Stop observing. Stop complaining. Act. Do something.

Story:
I go to a small Christian college in Colorado, and after watching the film a hand full of girls were inspired to help make a difference. Less than ten of us put together a flea market in the spring and advistised to the college students and to the surrounding neighborhoods. It was a long day, but when it was all over we had raised $500 for the invisible children. It was great to be able to do something bigger than ourselves and use our time and effort on something that is making a difference.

Thoughts:
I believe that the story of the Invisible Children is very powerful on it's own but the filmmakers do an incredible job in the presentation. It is not a National Geographic documentary. IC makes the viewer feel empowered to affect change instead of making them feel guilty about the way they live thier lives, which often times is the case.

Inspiration:
I love all kinds of art, but African art is one of my favorites, I love the colors and designs. So after watching IC and doing a little brainstorming, I created the artwork that was sold.

Tell People:
The hardest thing about raising money is getting word out at a school with very low morale.

Story:
I saw IC a little over a year ago, I was planning a big screening at my school, through Art Club, but the plans sort of fizzled out (and so did Art Club). However, I was able to show four classes the documentary, as well as using the war and the night commuters as a topic for a major project in my Engilsh class. I wasn't able to show Invisible Children, but they now know the story. My event was an art auction the week before the GNC. I tried as hard as I could, but since I was the only person working on it, it still didn't go very far. I raised $28 by selling my African art consisting of, an oil pastel picture of an African boy, hand carved and burned rhythm sticks, a handmade ceramic African pitcher and a hand carved and painted walking stick.

Thoughts:
A touching and well done documentary...and I know documentaries!

Inspiration:
Inspiration: A student brought me the film while we were studying Africa. I thought it was perfect to show the age groups I teach. I ended up showing it to all my classes (I ended up watching it seven times!). We spent two days in class viewing and discussing the children of northern Uganda.

Tell People:
Anyone who thinks this generation is apathetic, hasn't met my students! They are aware and they care!

Story:
I am a 9th grade World Geography teacher in League City, Texas.

Thoughts:
The film is so moving! It totally touched my heart and opened my eyes! I had been praying about what God wanted me to do for His kingdom and He totally touched me with your video!

Inspiration:
God, would probably be my number one inspiration and just trusting in Him.

Tell People:
Never underestame what God can do with you. And know that as a young person ( or old) people listen when you raise your voice, when you start talking! No child needs to be invisible, no child needs to hold guns and knives when they should be holding dolls and cars. We can save these children, we just have to step out of our little boxes and raise our voice! People will listen!

Story:
Well, my mom, my friend Charis, my friend Natash, and I went to the GNC in Santa Monica and that was so awesome and it got me thinking what else can I do to help these children. I started thinking and decided to have a yardsale, well I live on a military base and the base has an annuel yard sale, which happend to be coming up (May 6th). So i started asking people to donate to the yard sale ( I reserved a part in the annual yard sale) and a few people donated, but i wasn't getting to many resalts, So I went with what I had ( some clothes, jewery, old funiture, etc) and along with my friend Will we had our yard sale. OH and i made up 100 filers about IC, The yard sale was from 8am-2pm ( we had to be up and out there by 5:30am)

Thoughts:
The film is awesome! It really opened my eyes up to what was going on and it made me want to get involved.

Inspiration:
The movie mostly!!

Tell People:
GET INVOLVED!!! Its time to step up and make a difference in this world!!!

Story:
I knew that it was bad over there but i didn't really think about it and one day we watched the invisibe children movie in history. I couldn't stop crying. My heart went out to these kids. I alomost immediatly got involved. We got a whole bunch of kids together and decided we wanted to make something happen!! Some teachers helped us out but mostly the kids are doing everything. Its really great to see what a group of kids can do!! As of right now we have made bracelets and are selling them and we have a car wash planned for May 21st. We are raising tons of awareness and hope to make something happen. I think we will make a huge impact especially from all the support we are getting from the school and the community. I cant wait to see what somes out of this, its just fantastic!!

Thoughts:
I think the film is so amazing, and it makes you realize how lucky you are. I think about what i saw in the film, about every day. I've even had dreams about it. It's affected my life tremendously, and i come to the site everyday and look at the videos.

Inspiration:
Inspiration

Tell People:
You should be really grateful for what you have, because there are a lot of children out there that don't even have as much as you do. Like they said in the film "So many beautiful faces, are invisible."

Story:
I saw the video first in my History class about a week ago. We laughed, we cried. It wasn't one of those boring movies, that makes you fall asleep. No. This movie really caught my attention, and made me think. Our 8th grade is coming to an ending, and we're having an 8th grade dance. So, since I couldn't get the film out of my mind, I thought I would do something instead of just thinking about it. So I talked to some of my teachers and asked if maybe we could raise money, for the Invisible Children at our dance, by selling tickets to bring someone else outside of our school to the dance and maybe some other things. My teachers love my idea, and so far we're still raising money. I'm not sure how much, but we only have 3 days left until we know how much we raised. And just knowing that I made at least a little bit of difference in the Childrens life from Africa, with this fund raiser, makes me extremely happy. And i'll keep on thinking of more ways to raise money. I also inform people about this everyday, friends, relatives, anyone possible.