Broadneck High Students Reach Out to Africa’s Invisible Children

Originating in the northern part of Uganda, a crisis took shape as a result of the widespread conflict between government officials and a group of Ugandan rebels known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Over the past 20 years, this conflict has forced civilians, from both Uganda and other outside nations, into the streets where children are often impressed into the resistance military and pulled away from their families.

Awareness about this issue has risen; and, most recently, has inspired the creation of the Invisible Children Club at . The name "Invisible Children" reflects the nature of LRA abductions; if a boy is taken into the resistance, it is often ignored by the people and government.

Spearheaded by Alyssa McDaniel, a junior at Broadneck, and currently consisting of roughly 20 committed teens, the Invisible Children Club works to raise money for the expansion of communication for the people of Uganda and the other affected parts of Africa.

“Our job is to raise money for radio towers more than anything else” McDaniel said. “With communication as poor as it is in this part of Africa, most civilians don’t know when or where the LRA will strike next. These towers will allow people to get the information they need, so they can get out of the way.”

One of main goals of the Invisible Children Club, aside from fundraising, is the raising of awareness. This is an idea shared by even those working higher up in the organization, the same people who sponsor the screenings of Invisible Children documentaries and educational seminars on the Invisible Children cause.

“We’re hoping to get a screening for [Broadneck High],” said McDaniel. “Because its such an unheard-of issue we have a little more trouble raising awareness, but we’ll get there.”