Invisible Children improves the quality of life for war-affected children of Uganda by providing access to quality education and innovative economic opportunities. Over 580 local American school groups have raised over $1,200,000 (USD) for Ugandan education aid thru Invisible Children’s ’Schools for Schools’ program.

Uganda is home to the longest running war in Africa (1986 to present). At the end of 2003, Jan Egeland, the United Nations Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the BBC, “I cannot find any other part of the world that is having an emergency on the scale of Uganda that is getting so little international attention.”

Tens of thousands of civilians have been maimed or killed by the LRA. More than 30,000 children, ages seven to seventeen, have been abducted from towns and camps. Ninety percent of the region’s population of almost two million people has been relocated into camps that lack food and security. People in the camps endure disease, malnutrition, and nighttime attacks from the LRA.

In 2004, Congress passed the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act, the first American legislation to address this disaster. In 2006-2007 truces and peace talks have been going back and forth.

Hayden Panetierre (Heroes) and Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy’s) are two well known supporters of Invisible Children.

Invisible Children has also produced a documentary, created by three filmmakers after a 2003 trip to Uganda. The film has now been seen by more than 2 million people around the world. For local school groups, Invisible Children can help you with an assembly or screening of the movie.

Invisible Children is not offering a handout, but instead, a life-long investment in vulnerable youth. “We provide them with quality education and valuable life skills that enable them to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country.” Emphasis is placed on water, teachers, books, buildings and technology.

Some of the activities promoted in Uganda are:

Emphasize community involvement and Ugandan leadership.
Promote cross-cultural education.
Look for ways to defend the oppressed and promote peace.
Awards scholarships to promising students in war-affected communities.
Teacher Exchange Program - American teachers volunteering for teacher-training programs in Uganda.

For the “Schools to Schools” campaign last school year, 12 schools were chosen for the opportunity to send 2 students each to Uganda to help administer the donations. The schools and their total donations are shown below:

• Newport Harbor High School, Newport Beach, California - $44,042 raised
• Juan Diego Catholic High School, Draper, Utah - $35,212 raised
• Collegedale Academy, Collegedale, Tennessee - $25,818 raised
• Downingtown West High School, Downingtown, Pennsylvania - $24,381 raised
• James Martin High School, Arlington, Texas - $22,996 raised
• Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois - $18,355 raised
• Athens High School, Troy, Michigan - $17,839 raised
• Auburn High School, Auburn, Massachusetts - $17,301 raised
• Sammamish High School, Bellevue, Washington - $11,478 raised
• Calvary Christian Academy, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - $11,015 raised
• Central High School, Louisville, Kentucky - $20,184 raised
• Washington High School, Phoenix, Arizona - $1,968 raised

Another “Schools for Schools” drive begins in September, 2007.