LRA DISARMAMENT — Several students in Bonnie Cretton’s eighth-grade social studies class at LFMS recently wrote letters to state representatives and senators requesting their support to disarm the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebellious militia group trying to overthrow the Ugandan government. The LRA has abducted and enslaved thousands of children to become soldiers of the radical group.
The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been engaged in an armed rebellion against the Ugandan government.
Since its formation in 1987, the LRA has been accused of atrocious human rights violations including mutilation, murder, rape and the abduction and enslavement of thousands of children.
These children, who average between 5 to 12 years old, are forced to march as child soldiers — fighting and killing. No records are kept detailing these children’s existence, rendering them “invisible.”
Recently eighth-grade students at Lake Forest Middle School and Ocoee Middle School were visited by representatives from the Invisible Children Legacy Tour.
The tour represents a nonprofit organization, which makes educational documentaries and raises awareness and financial support to rebuild schools devastated by the war. Funds raised provide sanitation, books, equipment, teachers and classroom technology to thousands of Ugandan youth. The Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools Program has also provided hundreds of scholarships to children. The majority of the tour representatives are Ugandan.
As a result of the tour, the LFMS and OMS students were given an assignment — to be creative and design a piece of artwork which can aid the Ugandan youth.
On Sunday, there will be an art exhibit at the Lee University Dixon Center which will premiere art work completed by the LFMS and OMS students. A silent auction will be held for the pieces and the money raised will be donated to the Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program.
During the exhibit students will present their artwork and give awareness speeches and poetry readings.
The OMS Trashcan Band and the LFMS Revolution Show Choir will also perform.
The event is from 2 to 5 p.m. and admission is free. Donations are graciously accepted.
The event is coordinated by social studies teachers Bonnie Cretton (LFMS) and Chris Cretton (OMS).
For more information about the exhibit, e-mail bcretton@bradleyschools.org. For more information about Invisible Children, go to www.invisiblechildren.com.
