Students Organize March for ‘Invisible Children’ at USAO

CHICKASHA – Every night, approximately 40,000 children in Northern Uganda walk miles to large towns in hopes of escaping night abduction and involuntary recruitment into the Lord’s Resistance Army as child soldiers. Each night, the children pour into local towns looking for a safe place to sleep. Although most end up sleeping on the streets, it’s better than being captured.

To help raise awareness of the plight of the Ugandan children, students at the University of Science and Arts are planning a walk across town with an overnight stay on the campus oval April 4. Coinciding with the annual Spring Triad the following morning, the walk is open to the public.

“We have been inspired to take action to see things change in Northern Uganda,” said Oologah psychology junior Scotti Parker. “We don’t want to talk about it any more – we want to do something about it.”

Parker is part of a new campus organization being formed to support “Invisible Children.” A nationwide non-profit organization led primarily by college and high school students, “Invisible Children” was created to raise awareness about Ugandan children and raise funds for schools and safe villages there.

Last month, the organization showed a documentary by the same name to a crowd of USAO students in Davis Hall.

On April 4, students will meet in front of Troutt Hall at 5:45 p.m. Vans will transport the students to the First Baptist Church parking lot. At 6:30 p.m., the students will begin walking back to the University. Once they reach the University, they will spend the evening and sleep on the oval near the Flag Plaza.

Parker said she hopes community members will take notice of the walk and consider getting involved.

“I encourage anyone who has seen the film and been moved by it – or even those who have not and are interested – to take this night and use it to show our government and surrounding communities that we are concerned about the events taking place in Northern Uganda,” she said.

More information about “Invisible Children” is available online at www.invisiblechildren.com.