Living lives unimaginable to most Americans, children in northern Uganda must travel for five miles every night to find a safe sleeping place.
The strife and kidnappings in war-torn central African country has created a generation of night commuters: young children traveling from their rural homes to the city every evening to sleep in relative peace. If they do not make this trek each night — and then back home every morning — they risk abduction by rebel soldiers and conscription into their army.
Horrified by this lifestyle and its stark contrast to her safe, comfortable existence, Kristina Adair spearheaded the showing of "Invisible Children" at Traverse City Central High School tonight. Donations will be accepted at the 7:30 p.m. screening of the 55-minute film, which was created by a non-profit organization also called Invisible Children. Funds from sales of T-shirts, DVDs and bracelets will also be donated to help the organization.
Adair and classmate Shannon Lowe decided to help with this cause after learning about it from Jesse Aja, a 2005 graduate of Central High School and a soccer pal. They traveled to Grand Rapids with another friend to see the documentary, where the showing in a park drew more than 1,000 people.
The Central students then ordered a copy from the organization's website so they could share the story back in Traverse City.
"Shannon was the first one to say, 'Let's do something,'" recalled Adair, who will complete a 12-week stay in Tanzania later this year as part of Cross Cultural Solutions, a short-term volunteer organization. "The school has been really supportive and by doing it through TCAPS we get the auditorium and the projector for free."
Aja, who saw the film three times in one week earlier this year, said the story and images are so compelling they will inspire viewers to take action.
"I saw it at college," noted Aja, a student at the University of Michigan home for summer break. "I went with some girls from my church and we saw it at an auditorium in the Business School and it was packed. Everyone was silent coming out."
Adair and Lowe made bright, eye-catching posters advertising the documentary and posted them around the school. They also created custom T-shirts to sell and help raise money for the cause.
The girls have also reached out beyond their school community, hoping to give the story as wide a hearing as possible.
"We also talked to the Kiwanis Club and Rotary and to students at East Junior High and West High School," said the quiet Adair. "I've never done public speaking before, it got a lot easier."
The organizers of the "Invisible Children" showing are not sure what to expect, whether a handful or hundreds of viewers will show up tonight. Either way, they are determined to bring the story of these traumatized children to as many people as they can.
"I've gotten varied responses but I have had people come up to me and ask me about it," said Adair, who plans to study next year at Northwestern Michigan College.
"Invisible Children" will be shown in Central High School's auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission fee but donations to the non-profit organization Invisible Children will be accepted. For more information on the issue or the organization, see the web site www.invisiblechildren.com.