Sophisticated African

President of Invisible Children Angie Hong preparing for a rally

The time is 2:13 p.m., and it passes by slower with each ticking second. Though the sun shines in the sky, cold air brings ghostly chills to all who pass by. This is no day for a parade or a gathering of any sort, and all those who walk the streets do so with a stark determination to achieve warmth.

But, on a relatively small table outside of a school building, a group of determined advocates set up shop, wearing gloves, scarves and looks of relentless ambition on their faces. Their table is filled with stickers, pins, jewelry, and T-shirts, all which have motivational quotes on them. They have gathered in the cold with one goal in mind: ending the war in Uganda by bringing attention to its crisis.

Angie Hong, the driven president of Invisible Children Towson University Chapter, rigorously attempts to get the attention of all those, who walk by their table, and sometimes she attains success, which often results in a monetary donation ranging from nickles to 10 dollars. Occasionally, she is lucky enough to attract someone with heavy pockets and, she lands a generous donation.

“Sometimes people are rude,” said Angie. 

“They just keep walking by without the simple decency to atleast stop and listen to what we are saying. But, whenever we get someone who not only hears us out, but also donates generously, it’s always more than enough to mend our earlier dissapointments. When you get someone, who feels just as passionate as you feel about your cause, it’s great. I can’t even describe the feeling you know. You just want to jump up with excitement.”

The largest donation, which Invisible Children received that day was one of 65 dollars, and the members were immediately overwhelmed and inspired.

The Towson University chapter of Invisible Children began in 2006 by Junior Andrew Insuen, who was driven to spread knowledge to the masses about Invisible Children, and his legacy has since then been carried on by the current president Angie Hong and all of the members.

“When I began Invisible Children three years ago, I was resolved in the fact that the tragedy of the children of Northern Uganda were completely unacceptable, and they could not be ignored,” said Andrew.

“I felt that I couldn’t carry on not doing something about it. I had to make my own contribution, because the idea that these kids, who are just like my brothers and sisters, live their lives in fear every single day of the Lord’s Resistance Army. They are slaughtered, butchered and forced into a violent army as early as two. But what’s more terrifying is the fact that the world stands idly by and does nothing about it.”

Invisible Children is an organization, which was founded in 2008 after three young filmakers left America in search of a story and ended up with a greater story than they could have ever fathomed or imagined. They returned to America and created a gutwrenching documentary consisting of all they had filmed while in Uganda, which even included heartpounding close-to-death moments.

The story they told was one of struggle, ambition and perseverance. It was also a story of greed, disregard, cruelty and indifference, and they told it well, naming the documentary “Invisible Children,” because of the fact that the children and their struggles remain largly invisible to those outside of the country.

Since then the organization has grown into a massive humaniterian cause, which will stop at nothing to ensure the ongoing war ends.  The Towson University chapter is only one example of hundreds of organizations and people fighting to make a difference.

“I learned about Invisible Children in high school,” said Angie. “I was working on a paper, and I found out about it. I have been passionate about it eversince then.”

The Towson University chapter, which discouragingly began with only a few members, grew immensely within the first year, reaching close to 350 members, willing to lend their resources to the cause. Just last year, the organization raised over 10,000 dollars in a march from Cockeysville to Pennsylvania, and the passionate members are not stopping there.

They are planning a fashion event to raise more money and more awareness and have just signed petitions encouraging Congress to address this issue. Some have even written letters.

“I am beyond happy to be a member of this organization,” said Junior Lizzy Fernandi, who joined after she donated some money and signed a petition last year.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of something that is great. Something, which makes a significant difference in someone’s life. I feel like I am doing that here.”

Photo by Success O