Invisible Children partners with local peacebuilders across central Africa to end violent conflict through locally-led solutions.

We were founded in 2004 to help end two decades of mass violence and child abductions by Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which was once considered “the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis.” After years of trailblazing international awareness campaigns, political advocacy, and on-the-ground community protection programs in areas of central Africa facing active LRA violence, we have seen a 92% reduction in killings by the LRA and the peaceful defection of dozens of LRA fighters, including senior leaders.

The LRA is weaker than ever before and hundreds of LRA captives are finally free. In 2021 alone, Invisible Children reunited 92 former LRA captives with their families.  

Today, led by a new Board of Directors, a new CEO, and a global leadership team with seasoned experts from Subsaharan Africa, we are leveraging the expertise and relationships we have built over the years to expand our work and increase our impact. 

As LRA violence has reduced and other threats in central Africa have emerged, we have dynamically adapted to meet the changing needs of central African communities. We expanded our on-the-ground programs and conflict analysis to help local peacebuilders and their communities develop innovative methods to prevent violence and build sustainable peace. And these days, we work with talented Central African filmmakers in communities impacted by violence to help them tell their own stories and promote peace. 

From the beginning, we were driven by the conviction that every human being has inherent dignity and deserves to live free from the threat of violence, no matter who they are or where they live. 

In 10 years, we have accomplished a lot, learned a lot, and changed a lot (we’re sure you have, too) – but that same conviction still drives us forward. We would love for you to join us on the exciting journey ahead.

WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER

BRINGING LRA CAPTIVES HOME: Since 2012, Invisible Children has cared for hundreds of men, women, and children after their escape from the LRA and reunited them with their families. In 2021 alone, we reunited 92 escapees with their families, and we continue to be the primary organization in central Africa providing safe shelter, psychosocial care, and family reunification support to LRA escapees.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR LRA SURVIVORS: Our advocacy campaigns have helped to secure more than $40 million of U.S. government humanitarian assistance to LRA-affected communities in DRC and CAR. 

EXPANDING LIFE-SAVING EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS: With support from donors like the U.S. agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State, we have expanded our community-based Early Warning System to more than 165 highly remote communities in DRC, CAR, and South Sudan. This program helps vulnerable populations to improve their safety by sharing life-saving information with each other and employing local violence-prevention strategies.  

A NEW APPROACH TO STORYTELLING: Through our Mobile Cinema program, we co-produced three films in collaboration with the talented Central African filmmakers at OAZ Entertainment, NOVO, and local organizations SAIPED and Bria Londo. Featuring an entirely Congolese or Central African cast, each film is made for Central African audiences as part of grassroots awareness campaigns about issues that impact regional peace and security. Since 2018, we have screened the films more than 1000 times, reaching more than 150,000 people in DRC and CAR. 

HELPING SURVIVORS HEAL FROM TRAUMA: Since July 2020, and as part of the USAID-funding Community Resilience in Central African (CRCA) Activity, Invisible Children has provided focused trauma counseling by expert psychologists to more than 2,700 conflict-affected individuals in DRC and CAR, including former LRA abductees and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. 75% of those who have been discharged show notable signs of improved mental health.