April 25, 2006 > Kids helping kids with an overnight stay

by Gina Benedetti

This Saturday students from over 130 cities across the country will gather for an overnight vigil to raise awareness for the children of Uganda. These youngsters are routinely kidnapped from their homes and forced to become soldiers. The event is called "Invisible Children Global Night Commute."

Every night for 20 years, thousands of children in Northern Uganda have commuted to sleep in the center of their cities for fear of abduction from a violent rebel army. Children are lying down to demand that our government take a stand and put an end to "night commuting," mass child abduction, and this horrific war.

"By lying down, we are joining the invisible children in Northern Uganda, and demanding that our government put an end to the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today," said a representative of Invisible Children Inc.

What started out as a film-making adventure in Africa, transformed into much more, when three young American's travels took a divine turn, and they found themselves stranded in Northern Uganda. They discovered children being kidnapped nightly from their homes and forced to fight as child soldiers. A film was made that is fast-paced with an MTV beat and is dedicated to exposing this tragic and horrifying untold story. They originally screened the film in June 2004 for friends and family and it soon expanded to high schools, colleges, and religious institutions, from suburban living rooms to Capitol Hill, with coverage on CNN, the National Geographic Channel.

Students are encouraged to take public transportation or park their cars a mile away and walk to the event to symbolize the commute that is so difficult for the children of Uganda and bring a sleeping bag, snacks and water.

Alisa Wells, of Invisible Children Inc. said, "The youth of America need to stand up and help the youth of other nations, we all stand together we can do something to help the children of Africa."

Participants will be asked to write letters to the President and state representatives urging them to take action against this inhumane plight.

For more information visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

Invisible Children Global Night Commute
Saturday, April 29
Arrive between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
San Jose State University Tower Lawn
One Washington Square, San Jose