Teachers, students see Invisible Children; moved to act!

By J. Wright

The new school for a teacher starts way before August 27. However, the busiest time is the week before student return as teachers complete training and prepare their rooms. During the busyness, Student Council asked teachers to take a lunch break and watch a 30 minute documentary entitled Invisible Children: Rough Cut. The documentary shows the injustice and effects of the 21 year war in Northern Uganda.  Children are forced to leave their “home” in inadequate displacement camps for fear of being abducted by the rebels,  Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).Following the viewing, students and teachers wrote letters to Congressman Gene Green asking for his support in Juba Peace Talks.

Student Council members visited Congressman Gene Green on August 22, 2007 at his Houston office. Student Council Vice President Rickie Mullins introduced the students. Dylan Murray explained to Congressman Green the situation and need of the invisible children of N.Uganda.  Members showed Congressman Green a clip of the documentary Invisible Children: Rough Cut. Student Council sponsor Mrs. Janice Wright, explained the displacement situation of the Northern Uganda citizens having experienced displace herself after Hurricane Katrina. “Losing my home was traumatic in and of itself.  However, I, like many in our nation, was angered by the injustice as we watched New Orleans residents at the superdome with no food or clean drinking water who watched their children and neighbors die in front of their eyes.  For the past 21 years, this has been the way of life for the people of N. Uganda.”  Student Council members asked Congressman Green to do 2 things: Support Juba peace talks and Co-sponsor the Child Soldier Prevention Act.  Congressman Green was very happy to inform students that thanks to our efforts, he learned about Invisible Children and the need of our Congress to support peace efforts as he became a co-sponsor of the Child Soldier Prevention Act. He thanked NSMS students for bringing this issue to his attention. He was intrigued as sponsor Ms. Walton explained that NSMS students used one of their last days of summer to meet him and speak on behalf of their peers half a world away. Students gave Congressman Green an information packet provided by Resolve Uganda and a copy of Invisible Children: Rough Cut.

For more information on how you can help the Invisible Children of N. Uganda, join the Schools 4 School Committee and visit www.invisiblechildren.com or www.resolveuganda.org.