Monday, North House sponsored a screening of the newest Invisible Children movie, “Go,” at the Commons Center. “Go” is the follow-up to the organization's original film, titled “Invisible Children.”
“Invisible Children” was born when three college students went to Uganda and witnessed the atrocities associated with its ongoing civil war. They made a documentary about children being kidnapped from their homes by rebel soldiers and being forced into what the film calls a "kill or be killed situation."
They were made to choose whether or not to kill others or be slaughtered by their peers. The documentary raised awareness of this rarely talked about issue, and, in 2005, the development of a non-profit organization allowed the people who had seen the movie to get involved with the cause.
Soon after the organization's formation, the Schools for Schools program emerged. With Schools for Schools, American high schools raising money for Invisible Children are paired with partner schools in Uganda. In a competition, the schools that raise the most money have the opportunity to send students to Uganda to see the changes their efforts have made.
“Go” followed three of these high school students chosen to go to make these connections. Each of them had their own special experience there, making friends with the locals and becoming involved in Invisible Children's philanthropy projects.
One of the most moving things about the movie for sophomore Emily Douglass, treasurer of the Invisible Children Organization here on campus, was the story of Tye, a student from an inner city school in Kentucky who had a reputation for being economically disadvantaged.
Despite monetary difficulties facing him, Tye was able to push his school to be one of the top fundraisers in the country. "It made me realize that we could make a difference … Vanderbilt has so much ability and influence … Why aren't we making the impact we're capable of?" said Douglass.
For more information about the Invisible Children program at Vanderbilt, e-mail abigail.m.lichliter@vanderbilt.edu.
