The non-profit organization Invisible Children, Inc. showed their newest film “Tony” in the Student Union Ballroom on the evening of Wednesday, March 16, in an effort to educate an audience about human rights violations in Africa. The Southeastern Sociological Association (SSA) sponsored the showing of the film.
“We sponsored this event because we believe it can help make a difference in the world,” said sociology professor and SSA advisor Rebecca Hensley. “We can make a difference where we are. There’s pain everywhere, but we just do what we can with what we have and where we are.”
“Tony” follows the story of a boy from northern Uganda, who is the titular figure, and his friendship with Invisible Children, Inc. founders Larren Poole, Bobby Bailey and Jason Russel. The film was predominately narrated by Poole and spanned seven years; beginning in 2003 when the founders first traveled to Uganda as filmmakers and ending in 2010 with the founding of the Legacy Tour. The film also showed how the organization began the Legacy Scholarship Program and their involvement with the passing of the LRA disarmament bill by the United States Congress.
Along with the story of Invisible Children, Inc. and Tony, who at the time was a young student, the film probes the abduction of children by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, a rebel army lead by Joseph Kony. The International Criminal Court of widespread human rights violations such as abduction, murder, sexual enslavement and forcing children to become child soldiers has accused the group.
The film was well received by students, including Andrew Billon, a residential assistant in Hammond hall, a sophomore general studies major and former Invisible Children volunteer, which are known as Roadies.
“This is the first new film I’ve seen since my tour,” said Billon. “I would love to go back, but for now I have to focus on school.”
After the film Francis Ojok, a Ugandan student and a Roadie, gave a brief speech that entailed how he became involved with the organization.
“I was 13 at the time, when the LRA killed my parents, it was very traumatic,” said Ojok. “I was the oldest, and my bothers and sisters and I were looking for a safe place to live.”
Ojok explained that his uncle could not support him and his siblings. Ojok did not have money for school, so he took on construction jobs earning one dollar a day. In 2007 Ojok applied for the Legacy Scholarship. He is now pursuing his undergraduate degree in Administration and Management at Gulu University in Uganda.
“My favorite part about this is the Legacy Scholarship,” said Ojok. “The scholarship gives, I think, 650 high school students and maybe 208 university students the education they need.”
Three other volunteers accompanied Ojok: Johnny Hyatt, Claire Warne and Jayme Shearer.
Following the event, the audience was encouraged to shop at a kiosk showing Invisible Children merchandise.
All items were made in Uganda and 100 percent of all funds will go to funding radio towers for villages in northern Uganda, which will allow communication and warn each other to evacuate during oncoming LRA attacks.
In addition, the Roadies also sponsored the upcoming 25 Campaign.
“We’re promoting the 25 Campaign right now,” said Shearer. “People can sign up for that at invisiblechildren.com. I think it’s a great way to get involved and to make others aware.”