No, I’m not talking invisible three year olds running around a house terrorizing, but a war that’s been going on in northern Uganda for more than 20 years.
This weekend Alli (my president), Mrs. Margrave, and Miss Neylan (our club advisors) drove down to San Diego for an invitational Invisible Children conference. We learned so much this weekend about anything to do with the organization, the war, logistics/financials, political advocacy, etc, and met so many people, our heads got pretty near explosion (or would it be implosion?)
We met the film makers, IC staff, had dance parties, seminars on various topics, ate good food, laughed a lot, and brainstormed ideas to raise money and awareness about this cause.
Here’s us with the film makers themselves:
From left to right: Alli T, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, Amelia Shelton, and Laren Poole.
If you still have no idea what the heck Invisible Children is, go to their website and explore.
I was thinking, if you want to know what to get me for the holidays, send me a check made out to Invisible Children. This would be the most incredible and perfect gift for me, I cannot even begin to tell you how much this organization and its mission means to me.
What would they use the money you send me for?
We have a program called Schools for schools, in which high schools in the US raise money for rebuilding/improving various high schools in Uganda that need to be improved in order to lift Uganda out of poverty and crisis.
At my high school, we’ve been working on raising money through events, donations, etc, ALL YEAR LONG. We need any help we can get to help the kids. :]
This year we’ve also attended a couple other events for this cause, so here are a few pictures:
^here’s Ana, Alli, and me signing letters to congressional members.
^This is us, after I picked up an information packet and signed up to sponsor a little girl in Uganda named Concy. She’s 10 and lives in an area severely affected by aids, and I help Giancarlo with his real estate stuff so we can send 35$ monthly to help her out.
See our buddies at GULUWALK!
I guess I wrote this blog because I haven’t written for almost a month, and this is how I preoccupy myself at school and throughout the year.
Also, if you want a DVD of the movie Invisible Children sent to you, I can hook you up for a holiday gift (or anytime of year, for that matter) and send one to you as a gift. If you buy/get from me directly, the 20$ each DVD costs goes to my schools for schools account towards our account!
CIAO!
Wow…for as young as you are you have go t to be exhausted. I truly respect what you are doing. Being a good person is a whole lot harder than just being ignorant or apathetic about what is around you. You have taken the challenge and are bringing a lot of people along with you. Rock on!
That’s my girl!
It always amazes me how much compassion Amelia has. Many teens are lost in a climate of malls… and distress about just fitting in with peers. Amelia lives an existence of less is more – in a more is more community. Then… she sponsors a child on the other side of the globe because she knows she will make a difference in the world this way. When I see her frustrations and exasperations toward apathy and ignorance… I am humbled. Amelia you set an example of a life lived well at 15! Thank you. Mom.
So lucky… I wish I could’ve been there… Gah!
I totally agree with Claire… at 15 you’ve been more places and done more things that I’ve done now, at 18.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
=] Peace & Love, Anna
You are amazing!
Amelia,
I’m your mom’s friend that sent the link a long while back about Invisible Children. I went to high school with her and she emailed me today and told me to check out what you are doing. Can I just say that you are an inspiration. For real. There is something about the passion of youth that makes most older people just stare in awe and feel convicted about their own lack of it. Keep it up. I am really proud of you. I believe that it only takes one person to change the world. I’m dreaming big for you, Amelia. Don’t let anyone ever put limits on you and what you can accomplish. It’s people like you who make a difference. YOU GO, GIRL!!