At Invisible Children HQ, we talk a lot about “the big why” – the purpose that drives our organization and the way we approach our mission of ending LRA violence. We have a few core values that guide our work, make us think, and challenge us to grow. Read on for a glimpse of what makes us who we are.
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Everything we do started with a story. A former child soldier named Jacob got to know three young filmmakers and shared how LRA atrocities had affected him and his community. Inspired by him, our founders set out to spread the word so Ugandan children wouldn’t have to live in fear of being abducted. More than ten years later, our commitment to ending the conflict is still centered around our compassion and respect for individuals and the power of their stories.
Respect for people means thinking bigger than a “one size fits all” solution. Our programs address several aspects of the LRA conflict throughout central and East Africa. In northern Uganda, our recovery programs transform communities by empowering individuals.
This approach is especially effective for former child soldiers. We fund a World Vision rehabilitation center, which offers individualized recovery for LRA abductees who have returned home. Trained psychosocial support professionals work with each former LRA member over a six-month period to help them process their trauma and successfully reintegrate into their community.
We also invest into students affected by the conflict. Our merit-based Legacy Scholarship program empowers youth affected by the LRA conflict to reach their potential and reshape the country’s future. Mentors provide individualized support for each student and help them succeed in all areas of life through services like career guidance, leadership development, and communication with families.
Without the unique abilities and voices of people like you, work like our rehabilitation and Legacy Scholarship programs wouldn’t be possible. We are firm believers in the potential and influence of young people, and we work to empower and mobilize supporters to bring real change in U.S. policy and the LRA conflict. From roadie screenings with in-person Q&As to creative fundraising and awareness campaigns, we’ve worked to meet supporters where they’re at and encourage them to do what they can to create a world where injustices like LRA violence aren’t tolerated.
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