"Displace Me"

By Kate Wigley

On April 28, 2007, the nonprofit organization Invisible Children Inc. hosted the nationwide event “Displace Me.” About 68,000 people rallied together in 15 cities across the United States to raise awareness about the situation of the displacement camps in northern Uganda. Now, one year later, Stonehill Student Activists (SSA) is planning a similar campaign as they host a “Displace Me” event at Stonehill College on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008.

“I’m so excited for people to get more involved in the Invisible Children movement. The Displace Me event at Stonehill will give students a chance to gather for a good cause and work to make a difference in the world,” said Lauren DeRusha, co-founder of SSA.

The goals of Displace Me are, firstly, to bring attention both nationally and internationally to the humanitarian crises in northern Uganda. Secondly, this event wants to raise the political attention needed to see a peaceful resolution to the war in northern Uganda.

On April 29th students can gather in the chapel to watch the Invisible Children documentary—“The Rough Cut”, and other documentaries about night commuters in Uganda, the life of a child mother in the refugee camps, and the use of art as therapy. SSA will also be hosting a letter writing campaign in order to push American senators to advocate for the US to play an active role in achieving peace in Uganda.

“After I saw the Invisible Children movie I felt truly touched. I couldn’t believe that people live like these kids do, and what’s even worse, I couldn’t believe I’d never been exposed to it before. It’s so important that this documentary becomes more mainstream,” said senior Emily Jennings.

In the spring of 2003, three college filmmakers, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole, traveled to Africa in search of a story. What they discovered was the tragedy of the “invisible children,” African kids who left their homes and villages every night to walk miles and miles just so they could sleep in peace and away from the danger of being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to be child soldiers.

The Ugandan government has failed to protect its citizens from the rebel militia of the LRA, and the lack of safety has forced children to go on night commutes to sleep in hordes of hundreds, packaged like sardines into bus stations, hospitals, and verandas for safety from the rebel army.

With dwindling support for the rebel cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting children from the displacement camps and indoctrinating them into their ranks. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of the LRA’s troops are children.

“They’re just kids, and that’s what sticks with me the most. They’ve grown up having to basically make it on their own, and it’s amazing to see how resilient these children are. It’s terribly tragic and hopeful all at the same time. I think it’s so awesome that Stonehill is promoting more exposure of what’s really going on in Uganda” said junior Jessica Faria.

The documentary Invisible Children, recorded from footage from Russell, Bailey, and Poole while in Uganda, depicts the children from the displacement camps who fear living as child soldiers. It was this film that sparked a movement and lead to the “Displace Me” rallies all over the country.

“I can’t stress how important it is for people to get involved in this cause. If you haven’t watched the movie yet this event will definitely open your mind,” said junior Myles Day.

Through the “Displace Me” event at Stonehill students can help participate in the cause that Invisible Children Inc. stands for. SSA urges everyone to participate in “Displace Me” on April 29th.

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