On Nov. 8 Invisible Children, a non-profit organization, came to Cleveland and gave a school-wide assembly about child soldiers in northern Uganda.

    Invisible Children, based in San Diego, raises awareness about the war in Uganda while also raising money for schools in Uganda through a program called “Schools for Schools.” This program matches schools in America with a sister school in Uganda. American schools work to raise money for their Ugandan counterparts.

    After a successful assembly at Cleveland in spring 2010, Invisible Children decided to come back and give another presentation. This year’s assembly started out with the Portland Timbers presenting a soccer ball signed by the whole team to Okema James Okullu, a student who graduated from Anaka Secondary School, Cleveland’s Ugandan sister school.

    Invisible Children then played the movie “Go,” a short film about three American students who won a trip to Uganda through the Schools for Schools program. Many students became emotional at some of the movie’s dark themes.

    “I wasn’t expecting the film to be so moving. A ton of the kids around me were crying,” said sophomore Alex Beavers.

     After a standing ovation, Okullu gave a short speech about his life and what it was like growing up in war-torn Uganda. He talked about the many struggles he had faced and what school was like for him. He discussed how most of his school had been destroyed by the militant terrorist group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, 10 years ago, and how the school was being rebuilt, thanks to the Schools for Schools program.

    Invisible Children also gave Okullu a scholarship for college, without which he wouldn’t have had the money to attend. In thanks, he has devoted a year of his life to touring with the group and sharing his story in an attempt to raise awareness about the situation in Uganda. Okullu hopes that his actions over the year will inspire people to help.

      “We can not change the dramatic events of the past, but we can change the future,” said Okullu.

    Okullu’s mentor, Robert Anywar, was also at the assembly. Anywar has helped him work through many of his struggles. Anywar met the surviving members of Okullu’s family, and talked to them about what things he experienced growing up in refugee camps. He has also helped him apply for university in Uganda. 

    “James has gone through a lot,” said Anywar, “and I really hope better things are to come for him.”

    Anywar was inspired to get involved with Invisible Children after working with them at a shelter in Uganda. He specifically appreciated their grass roots approach and how they got young people involved in their cause.

    Meagan Shorey, one of the volunteers on tour with Invisible Children, was also inspired by their work. She saw one of their films while she was a senior in high school and was very moved by the cause. She said that the volunteers who came to her school gave her a gift and that gift was the power to actually make a difference in Uganda.

    “I had heard people talk about some of the tragedies in our society, but I had no clue how to help. Invisible Children offered me an opportunity to get involved with their organization and I am forever grateful,” said Shorey.

    Matt Sten, a history teacher at Cleveland, was the one who invited Invisible children to come to Cleveland last year and then to come back this year.  He is also the teacher mentor for the Visible Warriors club.

    “It was great to see all of the kids really listening to James speak,” said Sten. “A lot of them really listened to what he was telling them”.

    If you want to be involved with the club you can come to the meetings in room 117 on Thursdays. The club is raising money for their sister school and might possibly win a trip to San Diego for an Invisible Children Conference and Uganda.

    Students can contribute to this group by buying a Visible Warriors t-shirt or participate in the Sleep In on Dec. 4 which is where Cleveland students, staff, and parents solicit pledges from their friends and family to sleep in the Cleveland gym for one night. There will be entertainment that includes The Speech and Debate Club, School of Rock, and a marimba band.