Anna: Invisible Children = SUCESS!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQIFeSrnbbc


Invisible Children was a huge success last night, thanks to the combined efforts of the Northwest Invisible Children team and my amazing MUNers, who not only showed up in support but also took the time to help advertise the event beforehand.

Words cannot describe how ECSTATIC I was to see such a great turnout and to meet such inspiring people as Robert and James. But I suppose I should start at the beginning, huh?

Taylor Swift (not the singer), the leader of the Northwest Team called me at 5:30 to tell me that they were on their way and the ball started rolling. After jumping a minor hurlde with scheduling, I waited in the rain outside of Smith Memorial Student Union until I saw the vans turn onto the street. I knew immediately it was them because I couldn't think of anyone else who would drive around in vans with the words "Invisible Children" proudly displayed on the sides.

I met the team: Stewie, Taylor, and Megan, who are all volunteer roadies. Stewie is actually a university student from Georgia, studying international studies and politics just like me. Righteous. I also met the two men from Uganda, James Okema and Robert Anywar, who were to give their personal testimonies later.

We started setting up, I set out the free coffee, and we got started. Stewie gave a brief background of the conflict in Uganda and then sent us right into the documentary. GO details the experiences of three American high school students who won a trip to northern Uganda for raising money for the Invisible Children effort. Although the Lord's Resistance Army has been driven out of Uganda, millions of children and their families are still living in Internally Displaced Persons Camps.

After the documentary, James and Robert gave their personal testimonies. James graduated high school before coming on this tour, and he is going back to Uganda to start University next year. Robert is his mentor and also shared his experience growing up in Uganda during the war. I was blown away when he said he was priviledged. A man who's father had been killed, who had seen men, women, and children mutilated, raped, and murdered, considered himself lucky to be alive and have the opportunity to share his story. It kind of really drives home how spoiled we all are in the U.S.

Anyway, afterwards there was a short Q&A session and then a massive rush to the merchandise table in the back. Over half of everyone who came went and bought something, I'm sure of it. There was a table for the Legacy Scholarship Fund to provide Ugandan children with secondary education opportunities. All the other merchandise (the T-shirts, the bags, the bracelets, the documentaries) were all being sold to fund Invisible Children's projects in Uganda.

And then MUN, in true Portland fashion, took them out to Voodoo Donuts.

I was impressed not only by how friendly and easygoing the entire team was, but also by how gentle and sincere Robert and James were. They didn't play themselves off as tragic heros or victims. They were very humble and genuinely happy to be here and meet us. They are going back to Uganda soon and even I, after knowing them for a colossal three hours, felt a little sad when I hugged them goodbye. They are amazing people to leave such a powerful impression as that. Their strength and resilience is astounding.

I'm happy that my first event worked out and I can't wait until another opportunity comes to bring these people back.