Invisible Children

17 August 2008, Sunday – Just as we were about to snug into bed at 11ish, we heard a loud flick. The fan spun to a stop and the entire neighbourhood went pitch black. Our first power cut since we moved in. It was terribly hot and needless to say sleep was impossible. As with all power cuts, the uncertainty of when electricity will come back adds to the discomfort. While tossing and turning and swatting mosquitoes to death, I suddenly remembered a documentary recently watched.



“Invisible Children: Rough Cut” unravels the reality of life in Uganda when night falls. Children wander the streets and wallow in underground basements to escape from brutal killings and kidnaps by rebels who then convert to children soldiers. They live in tremendous fear and a bank of tragic memories having seen their friends, brothers or sisters killed before their very eyes.

As dusk ushers in, these children wrap themselves in tattered blankets and tip toe through the town looking for a safe hiding place. These places are mostly damp basements, underground halls and even hidden rooms next to sewers. They lay their blankets on the ground and then lit their candles to do their homework. Light is minimal and so is space. Sleeping in the dark is a norm and electricity is a luxury.

Back to my power cut experience, I was reminded of how comfortable and thankful I should be instead of wincing in a temporary power cut. While I lay head to rest every night, someone on the other side of the globe is crouched on a wet cold floor nodding to sleep – that is life for them.

Today the 'Invisible Children Inc.' is a movement to bring peace into Africa. From education to feeding to building safe havens, their effort has been inspirational. Founded by three young American filmmakers (who happen to also be the same people who filmed the documentary), their passion has impacted change in Uganda in more ways than one. If three young men can make a difference, so can you and I.

Here’s a snatch from the website under the title “Who We Are”. I hope it inspires you:

“We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it.”