By Charlotte A. Graham countyreporter@laurelleadercall.com
A local fundraising effort for Invisible Children brought in more than $600 for the movement organized to end the longest running war in Africa and bring peace and hope to the children of Uganda.
On Jan. 23, a silent auction and karaoke contest were held at Lee’s Coffee & Tea in Downtown Laurel. The fundraiser was organized by Suzanne Melton and Lora Davis, who wanted to help end the suffering of child soldiers in Uganda after viewing a documentary about the plight of the young soldiers.
Melton and Davis explained that the documentary was made by three young men from Southern California who made the documentary about how young children were captured and forced to become soldiers.
The documentary shows how some children choose to flee to camps where the food supply was scarce, and where malnutrition, malaria, cholera, and HIV were plentiful. Other children risk being abducted or killed.
Invisible Children is a movement that was started as a result of the documentary. As a non-profit, the organization works to transform apathy into activism. According to the organization’s literature, by documenting the lives of those “children living in regions of conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the western world to use their unique voice of change.”
Davis and Melton thanked those who supported the auction and said other activities and events are planned to help the Invisible Children movement.
“Members of Invisible Children and some of the people from Uganda who were a part of the documentary are coming to Mississippi,” said Melton. “They will be here Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.”
The public is invited to attend the event that will be held in the Home and Health Auditorium on the campus of Jones County Junior College. The group will show the documentary and share information about the project.
For additional information or to make contributions to Invisible Children, phone Lora Davis or Suzanne Melton at 601-477-3400.
