People crowd into a hospital ward for the mere sake of having the possibility of a safe night’s sleep. The torture or murder of a child, while others who were kidnapped watch in horror and fascination. Finally, children march off into battle, and some are so desperate, they pray for death over peace. The documentary, Invisible Children, adresses some of these aspects of life in Uganda.
It took a student, Heather Liparota, to bring Uganda and this documentary to the attention of the NEIU campus community. The way this was done was a benefit film screening and dance concert. At 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, the event’s art gallery opened up just outside of the auditorium. It was all student artwork from NEIU and high schools.
As reported in a preview article published in the Independent dated Jan. 22, Liparota explained why she brought the event to NEIU and referred to the “Displace Me” protest that was held in cities across America. She said, “I noticed large groups gathered from universities across Illinois and even some from Michigan, Iowa and Indiana. I wanted my university to be a part of this.”
When the first dance piece ended, the documentary started up. It opened with the images of dancing and kids playing, but those images were mixed with images more akin to war: chaos, starvation, destruction and panic.
The documentary followed children who were either casualties or family of the casualties of the war that has been raging in Uganda for over 17 years. It also followed relief workers and politicians in Uganda who are working toward peace, or at least the protection of the nation’s children. It also covered the topic of Ugandan pleas for aid, to the United States and Britain, that have been ignored.
The audience was both visibly and audibly moved by the documentary and the three dance pieces in the show.
Liparota stated that all revenue from tickets and merchandise would be donated to the displaced peoples of Uganda.
The total money collected was approximately $1,500. The money will be donated to the people living in different camps within Uganda because their homes are unsafe or destroyed.
The money will be used for providing them with food, clothing, education and other necessities that they are missing out on due to war.