The Rescue

ORLANDO, Fla. – Over 2,000 people gathered at Edgewater High School and Trotters Park to raise awareness of Africa’s longest war and the devastation it has caused for nearly two million of its citizens.

For the past 23 years, a group of rebel fighters, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, has wreaked havoc in three countries: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.

Over 1.7 million in Uganda alone have been forced from their homes into displacement camps, and an estimated 25,000 children have been kidnapped in what many believe to be the least addressed humanitarian disaster in the world today.

Invisible Children is a charity organization dedicated to raising both awareness and money for the crisis, and on April 25, they held an event called “The Rescue”, where they simulated the commute that thousands of people make every day in order to avoid abduction.

Head volunteer of the event, Ben Sasso, expressed the need for more awareness and support of this crisis.

“The situation over there [in Africa] is devastating, and it’s gone under the radar for way too long,” said Sasso. “The worst part of it is that there’s no reason or need for the war, and the children that are being affected the most are helpless.”

The LRA goes from village to village cutting off hands, ears, or lips of supporters of the African government. They rape women and kidnap children as young as eight years old, forcing them to serve as frontline soldiers in their army or, in the case of females, sex slaves.

“The Rescue” was a country-wide event that took place in many different cities. Each city had a meeting place where participants started a two to three mile walk while holding onto one long rope.

Once they arrived at their destination, they camped out together until a political figure or someone prominent in the media came to “rescue” them.

At Orlando’s meeting location, Edgewater High School, 2,400 people, mostly comprised of youth and young adults, gathered with their sleeping bags and overnight gear before making their three-mile trek to Trotters Park.

They arrived at Trotters Park around four in the afternoon and waited until 7:30 that evening when they were rescued by Aaron Gillespie, drummer and lead singer of a Christian metal band named “Underoath”.

“It’s a situation that only spreading the word and being passionate will help. It is a tragedy, a crime on humanity itself, and generally it’s disabling a people group,” said Gillespie. “You and me are their only hope. Our awareness, our spreading the word, our honesty and compassion on these issues is the only thing that will help.”

“The point of this event was to get someone with media influence involved,” said participant Emily Lukas. “We have to get the word out, and this forces the issue to be recognized by someone bigger than you and me.”

While Africa’s problems may seem very far away for many, for at least one participant in “The Rescue”, the tragedy hits closer to home. Alan Mwangi, originally from Kenya, came to America when he was five years old, leaving much of his family behind. He is 17 years old now, and he is dedicated to raising awareness of the fear the people of Africa feel every day.

Mwangi talked about a displacement camp in Kenya that has families from Uganda and Northern Congo, because “Kenya is one of the only safe countries left”.

“Congo is complete anarchy,” said Mwangi. “You can’t just walk the streets there; it’s way too dangerous.”

Invisible Children isn’t the only organization that recognizes the needs of Africa’s citizens. World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, is dedicated to helping those suffering all over the world.

President of the organization, Richard Stearns, expressed his desire to help those less fortunate than himself. “We live at a time when the needs of the world have never been more acute,” said Stearns. “Not just AIDS, but poverty, war, famines, natural disasters, and ethnic tensions.”

Although hope may seem far way from many of those suffering in Africa, volunteers of Invisible Children are hopeful that a resolution is within reach.

“I have faith and hope in all that we have done, that change will soon come,” said volunteer Amanda Deardeuff. “We will not rest until these children are rescued.”