Your Stories

Thoughts:
I thought the film was very informative. It inspired me and showed what's actually going on in Uguanda

Inspiration:
Our inspiration was you guys, the movie, the children in Uguanda. We just wanted to raise money and awareness of Invislbe Chldren

Tell People:
Doing something like this, mixing my two favorite loves--music and helping people-- was so rewarding.

Story:
Well my friend and I have been making shirts and selling them cheap so that people learn more about Invislbe Children, I dont know how many times people have asked me what Invisible Children is because they read my shirt. But when I came home for christmas break, my friend and I planned a benefit concert for IC. We had 9 bands play, we got a church to pretty much donate their facilities and we got soda donated and pizza at a discounted price. We were also selling our shirts there. We made just about $1000 and sold 12 shirts. It was an amazing night, a lot of people came and we explained Invisible Children to everyone.

Thoughts:
I thought that the film was heartbreaking, but I can not stop thinking about it. No child should go through what these children have to encounter everyday.

Inspiration:
My friend Justine and I first saw the Invisible Children video at our school about a year ago. After we saw it everyone was talking about how they really wanted to help these children but didnt know how. after seeing the movie, I decided to take a look at the website. When I saw the "house party" section of the website, I got the idea to do a Lifenight on it. It would be like a "houe party" on a larger scale.

Tell People:
donate

Story:
I attend St. Mary's parish in Hanover Mass. At my church we have a huge Lifeteen program, there are about 300 teens involved in total. Me and my friend Justine Harrington have decided that we want to get our whole church community involved in the Invisible Children. We figure that it will touch them as much as it touched us when we saw it at our school. We have talked to our youth minister and he said that he first has to watch the movie, but once he ok's it we can have our Invisible Children Lifenight! However, we are not just stopping at the Lifenight, we are going to go beyond that. We are going to have a fundraiser contest between the Freshmen, Sophmores, Juniors, and Seniors (highschool). Which ever grade can raise the most money first wins a pizza party! We hope to really make a differnce.

Thoughts:
The film helped clarify what i already knew about the crisis. It was amazing. I know how hard it is being in Africa. but, the filmmakers took it to the next level. I am so glad to see someone in our generation shining light on such a worthy subject. great job guys.

Inspiration:
the inspiration was that i felt like i needed and still do need to inform people about this. like the pay it forward effect.

Tell People:
open your eyes, and see what the real issues are in uganda...and do something about it.

Story:
i am 18 years old and live in las vegas nevada. I am next year going to attend point loma in san diego. you guys helped me make my college choice, cause i would love to be able to intern or do anything to help out. This past summer i went to South Africa and Zambia. I understand the need in those places, but they need more in uganda. Africa has become my new found passion that keeps me going. I hope to move there at somepoint in my life. I have a passion for doing this type of work. I taught kids in africa for about a month, i have attached a picture of me teaching at a school in Kitwe, Zambia. Enjoy!!

Thoughts:
i couldn't believe how horrible the conditions over there were. it was amazing to me. i really feel terrible for the children, i was totally inspired to get involved after seeing this flim.

Inspiration:
i'm going to get involved as much as possible.

Tell People:
do everything you can to help out! its completely worth it.

Story:
i just got home from the screening at my school about 5 minutes ago and i am amazed by this film. at first i wasnt even planning on going but i had drop my brother off and decided to stay it was completly worth it, i'm so glad i did. i was touch by what i saw. i want to get involved as much as i can i bought a braclet when i had left and i hope to donate $3 a week. i still can not believe what those kids have to go through every day.

Thoughts:
I thought it was amazing, and I knew that there was no way that I could not put every ounce of myself into it to make a difference. It starts with one, and leads to 100%.

Inspiration:
The documentary.

Tell People:
Don't say something needs to be done. Tell yourself, it is up to me to do something.

Story:
My story is just starting, but I thought maybe you would like to take it with me. Last night, my youth pastor,Joey, showed the documentary to us HIgh School students. It touched me so so deeply that I immediately went home and posted a bulletin telling about IC and asking for phone numbers from any and every person who could spare a few spare hours on the weekends, some junk to sell on eBay, or a Saturday night to come see a concert and a movie. I also posted a number of your videos I found on YouTube, and when I realized that not many people read my bulletings, I sent it personally-through messages- to every single person on my friends list. I also printed out an assembly packet from your site which I have made an appointment to present to my Vice Principal tomorrow. Today, I wrote out a short explanation of your program on a piece of loose-leaf paper, and sent it around collecting numbers in my classes today. Up until 3rd hour when my English techer decided she needed to confiscate it over night. Haha. I have also started to organize a show for my local area. I have scheduled our High Schools local rock band to play at it, I plan to show "Invisible CHildren:Rough CUt" at it, and have gotten some of the girls (and the teacher) from our schools fashion club to create hats, shirts, bags whatever to sell that night. On Friday, I am going to be going to Costco to buy food and stuff to sell that night. By the way, our youth group is held on a dairy farm, and that's where this will all take place. Fun right? Haha. I have received intense response from my friends, and plan on taking this as far as I can to spread awareness throughout my school. Maybe you will be visiting us soon. I can only hope. My story is only 2 days in, but already I see a bright light at the end, and hope for the beautiful, invisible children of Africa.

Thoughts:
I thought the film way absolutely AMAZING!!! I got to watch the movie in my english class because we are studing human rights and my teacher loves your video. I thought it told the hard cold truth and if people didn't want to know thw truth it was their problem because you were going to tell it anyway. I think it is wonderful that this is a full time thing for you guys now.

Inspiration:
your movie.

Tell People:
WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!! people may say things like "it'll change your life" but it isn't all about you, in reality I can change someone elses.

Story:
Okay, I'm not really sure that this is the best story you will ever hear but here it is. I go to a high school called the International School of the Americas, ISA for short. What we do is go out and learn about other places that are having problems, we mainly study third world countries. In our school right now as a freshman, our multi-media class is doing this HUGE project for the second semester called M.A.D. or Make A Difference. In this project we have to come up with something that could help the immediate community and as soon as I saw your movie I thought of a lot of things we can do to help. I thought I would hold this huge screening in our school even if it is a small school. I would buy a bunch of your shirts and bracelets and then after the screening i would tell the story of each on that has come out and then sell them in the back along with the shirts and orders for dvds. then whatever the screening made I would send to you and I would then order shirts, dvds, and bracelets that had been ordered at the screening.

Thoughts:
It is very inspiring. I cannot watch it and not start to cry and feel the need to do something.

Inspiration:
The movie was as well as my brother Tim Sliedrecht and his family who are going to Uganda as long term missionaries.

Tell People:
YOU can make a difference. NEVER think you can't no matter how old you are. There will always be something you can do. Remember...the people in Uganda matter, just as much as you and I.

Story:
I watched Invisible Children--Rough Cut for the first time a year ago. At that time I thought it was unbelievable. I didn't think there was much I could do about it though. But then I asked my youth pastor if he would show it to our youth group and in the fall of 2006 he did. My youth group became so inspired that they wanted to help out. So I decided to organize a big screening, with all of their help. We got my brother to speak at it (who is going to Uganda as a missionary) and we watched the Invisible Children--Rough cut. We also watched a few more small videos from your site, including 100% and one about the GNC. 200 people showed up to the event and it was a huge success! Now I am getting to do another smaller screening in a few days and am getting as many people as I can to do Displace me. I am hopeing to be able to have a Displace Me where I live. One day, I plan on going to Uganda to see what it really is like, and meet the people there. Until then I will continue to work at helping them from where I live as much as possible.

Thoughts:
I saw the movie twice, skipping class to go see it again, only because I thought it had a great impact on how we see the world. the things said in the movie were so right. Look at september 11th, or the war in iraq. we talk about these things everyday, but no one ever notices the mass genocide and child abductions taking place in great numbers. Why? More needs to be done. To the makers of the movie: Congratulations on a job well done. A lot of people really wouldnt have known what was going on if the movie hadn't been made. Now we, as a country have to look towards the future. what projects and places people have to go to get the most exposure for this horrible incident in our world today. seeing the movie, only makes me wish i could go to Africa and do my part, and witness first hand what it's like over there.

Inspiration:
School showed it to everyone during History class.

Tell People:
Do something. Don't say your going to do something, and then let time slip by, forgetting all about it. Everyday someone is dying or being abducted. My mind can not imagine what fear they must live in, hoping they aren't killed the next day. Let governement leaders know that the american people really do care.

Story:
It does shed a lot of light on an issue that no one talks about.

Thoughts:
In the beginning, I did not take it seriously. Some amateur filmmakers blowing up a termite hill? Then I realized that they were just some kids trying to make a difference, and they have. The film quickly transformed from a playful recollection to a powerful realization. After the title "Invisible Children" came across the screen, I got chills, and I stayed hooked through the rest of the film.

Inspiration:
Our Amnesty Student Group wanted to have a film night in conjunction with the Peace Jam Student Group at our school, and some of the Peace Jam students had recently gone to a conference. The conference highly recommeded hosting a screening of the film, and since our main focus at the time is child soldiering, "Invisible Children" seemed like a good fit.

Tell People:
The Invisible Children website (especially now) and staff are very helpful. It is easy to host screenings, raise awareness, participate in other events, and educate others. Use all of the materials (because there are A LOT) to your advantage.

Story:
The Amnesty Student Group at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado hosted a film screening of "Invisible Children". We have had events in the past, but we've never touched more people than we did at our IC screening. Since the focus of the film is children, it is easier for students to relate than if the film was mostly based on adults.

Thoughts:
I thought it was really eye opening about what others in the world are really going though. I just wanted to shake people and tell everyone I knew about these invisible children.

Inspiration:
I just wanted people to know about the destruction of lives that war can bring. I also wanted to let my church know that college age people are not all about partying, but about something good and worthwhile. I also wanted to open the eyes of people that our lives are not all that bad and that others have it a lot worse. Something needs to be done and it starts with us.

Tell People:
Just that I hope that you tell people about Invisible Children and that the hard work you put in is well worth it in the end.

Story:
I hosted a recent screening of the movie at my tiny church. The church I attend has a lot of shall I say, older than me church members. Most of the time youth oriented ideas are shut down as quick as they can come out of your mouth. I approached our preacher and he was all for it. So, I planned a screening. We had about 20-25 people show up which was good for my church and all of the 9 youth showed up, which was really exciting. After the film finished, people were crying, and no one said a word. They were just so shocked from the whole thing. I raised about $100 for IC which I am very happy about. Things are started to stir in my church and I will continue to address the issues of Africa and the invisible children at my church and community.