Last month, the Invisible Children US team headed to central Africa for our 2016 Regional Summit.

This Summit is a time for us to meet in person with our staff and partners who do the day-to-day work of ending LRA violence and helping communities recover. It’s an important opportunity to listen to the voices of those affected LRA violence and ensure that our programs are having the greatest impact.

While we were there, our team captured some great moments and, now that we’re back in the office, we wanted to share them with you.

 

We kicked things off with a family photo (in matching shirts, of course) to commemorate the reunion of all three of our offices (Invisible Children CAR, DRC and US).

 

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After our photo session, our first stop was a visit to Radio RTK in Dungu, DRC, one of our 11 partner radios broadcasting ‘Come Home’ messages. We were blown away by the incredible support Radio RTK has from the community, who avidly listens to their broadcasts and has even been know to bring gifts to the team there.

 

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Inspired by the folks at Radio RTK, we headed off to meet with another local partner who pointed out for us sites of recent LRA activity and his suggestion on locations for continued expansion of our Early Warning Network on a detailed chalkboard map of the region.

 

Twice a day, the team in our Dungu office hosts an HF radio call with all of the communities in Congo within our Early Warning Network. During these calls, communities are able to report on recent LRA activity in their area.

Twice a day, the team in our Dungu, DRC office hosts an HF radio call with all of the communities in Congo within our Early Warning Network. During these calls, communities are able to report on recent LRA activity in their area.

 

During their morning call, the Early Warning team invited Paul, our friend from The Resolve Crisis Initiative, to practice some of his Zande (a local language) by greeting Early Warning Communities.

During their morning call, the team invited Paul Ronan, our friend from The Resolve Crisis Initiative, to practice some of his Zande (a local language) with a greeting to the Early Warning Communities.

 

Also in Dungu, we stopped by to talk with one of the happiest people you will ever meet, Sister Angelique, who, though Invisible Children support, provides care and education for children in her community affected by LRA violence.

Also in Dungu, we stopped by to talk with one of the happiest people you will ever meet, Sister Angelique, who, though Invisible Children support, provides care and education for children in her community affected by LRA violence.

 

Sister Angelique playfully reprimands Paul for misbehaving in one of her classrooms.

Sister Angelique playfully reprimands Paul for misbehaving in one of her classrooms.

 

Down the road in Faradje, DRC, we met with the passionate team at Radio Rhino, another partner radio station, to talk with them about how Invisible Children support has allowed them to advocate for peace. They’ve expanded their programming beyond ‘Come Home’ messages to also include programs on peacebuilding and trauma healing for the communities their station reaches.

Down the road in Faradje, DRC, we met with the passionate team at Radio Rhino, another partner radio station, to talk with them about how Invisible Children support has allowed them to advocate for peace. They’ve expanded their programming beyond ‘Come Home’ messages to also include programs on peacebuilding and trauma healing for the communities their station reaches.

 

After leaving DRC, we headed to our office in Obo, CAR where some of the masonry students, who are part of community-led livelihood trainings, recently completed this small structure. It’s now used by the local, Invisible Children established Peace Committee, which takes on the important task of informing community members on ways to assist LRA victims and defectors.

After leaving DRC, we headed to our office in Obo, CAR where some of the masonry students, who are part of community-led livelihood trainings, recently completed this small structure. It’s now used by the local, Invisible Children established Peace Committee, which takes on the important task of informing community members on ways to assist LRA victims and defectors.

 

Miller, our Defection Program Field Assistant in CAR, busts a move during a stop to visit our partner Maman Marie Francine at the AFASVR Transit Center, which Invisible Children supports in Obo, CAR and provides care for recent LRA-escapees.

Miller, our Defection Program Field Assistant in CAR, busts a move during a stop to visit our partner Maman Marie Francine at the AFASVR Transit Center, which Invisible Children supports in Obo, CAR and provides temporary host families for LRA returnees.

 

While in Obo, our CAR team invited us to join a training for local journalists on how they can participate in building peace in their communities by incorporating trauma healing programs into their radio broadcasts.

While in Obo, our CAR team invited us to join a training for local journalists on how they can participate in building peace in their communities by incorporating trauma healing programs into their radio broadcasts.

 

Finally, we couldn’t not end the trip with a classic jumping photo with some members of our staff and partners.

Finally, we couldn’t not end the trip with a classic jumping photo with some members of our staff and partners.

Now that we’re back in the office, with our time in central Africa fresh on our minds, it’s clear that there remains much to be done to ensure communities are safe from LRA violence.

We’re beyond inspired by the the folks we work with who continue to support communities in innovative and powerful ways. With them, we know that ending LRA violence and bringing every last abductee home is more than possible and not far off.

CONSIDER SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO LRA VIOLENCE BY MAKING A DONATION TODAY.