What gets us more excited than free Halloween candy? Well, unlimited free Halloween candy… and inspiring updates from our International Programs team.

In case you missed it…

Over the summer, we saw an unprecedented increase in LRA defections and releases. Since August, around 100 individuals have returned home from the LRA. Whether they were released or escaped of their own will, for those 100 people, the war is finally over.

Today, we’re focusing in on one group in particular. On September 2, 26 Ugandan women and children were voluntarily released in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the male combatants in their group. The youngest was a 12-month-old baby.

Here’s the latest on these moms and kids:

We’ve been keeping in touch with our counterparts in Africa to see how these returnees are doing, and have received exciting news! According to our team on the ground, all 26 women and children have made it safely home to Uganda and are now living in freedom. #CelebrateEverything

Our regional staff in Gulu, Uganda hosted a Welcome Home ceremony to celebrate their return. From what we’ve heard from them, September 19 was a beautiful day.

Everyone met at the World Vision Reception and Rehabilitation Center – a fitting place to celebrate new life and a fresh start. Invisible Children staff, local leaders, and even some representatives from local media sources joined to celebrate alongside the released women and children.

The moving Welcome Home ceremony included prayers of gratitude, plenty of dancing, and a few words from a very special speaker. Opondo, a former LRA member himself, addressed the crowd and welcomed the returnees home after their years spent in LRA captivity.

Following the festivities, the Invisible Children team recorded “Come Home” defection messages from several participants at the ceremony, including LRA returnees and local leaders. These messages urged those still within the LRA ranks to peacefully surrender and return home. In addition to these messages, photos of the women and children were also taken for use on future defection fliers.

The good news can go even further.

This celebration marks a new beginning for these 26 women and children, and it has the potential to trigger even more returns. Defection messaging is one of our most effective strategies – 89% of LRA returners say our “Come Home” messages influenced their decision to escape. So, these new photos and recordings from recent returnees have incredible power to inspire more LRA members to escape and to prove that freedom is possible.

We need your help us get their messages out.  Support our defection fliers and radio broadcasts to encourage more LRA members to come home.