Binghamton University’s Amnesty International chapter, along with the organization Invisible Children, screened the movie “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” before spring break.

They also raised money for Invisible Children by selling Ugandan-made merchandise and taking donations.

Invisible Children is an organization dedicated to alleviating the hardships of Ugandans that are caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA is most well-known for abducting and indoctrinating children to become soldiers.

The movie, which was screened on Thursday, March 17, detailed the stories of various members of Invisible Children, including filmmaker and group co-founder Laren Poole, Tony, a Ugandan who joined Invisible Children and Nate Henn, a full-time volunteer for the organization.

Through these personal stories, the film recounts how the organization was founded, its goals and the extent of the LRA’s impact on Ugandan lives. After the movie, Nancy Knox, a Ugandan whose life had been affected by the LRA, talked about her story. Coordinator Maggie Leahy and Knox then took questions.

Some BU students who attended the screening said they were affected by the documentary.

Vanessa Ayivi, a junior majoring in political science, and Abena Afful, a senior majoring in psychology, said the movie screening was beneficial for the BU campus.

“[It] raises awareness and teaches people the other things going on in the world,” Afful said.

Caitlin Melvin, co-president of Amnesty International’s BU chapter who is majoring in psychology, said events held by Invisible Children are important to “promote awareness of what’s going on in Uganda and now the Congo.”

The BU chapter of Amnesty International and Invisible Children are also conducting a book drive. They will sell the collected books to Better World Books to raise funds. Book bins can be found in the Glenn G. Bartle Library lobby and next to the buyback window of the University Bookstore.

The organizations use the money they raise to “improve the life of war-affected people by providing access to quality education, enhancing learning environments and creating innovative economic opportunities within communities across northern Uganda,” according to Cherliza Jimenez, an intern working at the national office of Invisible Children. “Invisible Children places emphasis on improved education and psychosocial support for the most vulnerable members of the community, and also provides financial training and resettlement assistance to former internally displaced persons.”

Invisible Children has also responded to the LRA’s move out of Uganda and into neighboring countries with the implementation of radio towers that will “serve as a monitoring and alert system for the civilians upon an LRA attack in hopes to increase safety and minimize abductions by alerting nearby districts,” said Jimenez. Rehabilitation centers are also being built in the Congo to provide “professional assistance in the areas of psychosocial support, child protection and trauma counseling for former child soldiers and families,” Jimenez added.

Jimenez stressed the importance of having a college campus’ presence.

“I have personally experienced the impact of this organization on our generation and so I think it is always important to continue bringing this story to campuses across the country like Binghamton,” she said.

Joleah Stiles, a regional manager working for Invisible Children, agreed.

“People all across college campuses are really dedicated to Invisible Children and really dedicated to getting the word out. We would absolutely not be in the place that we are now without college campuses and their involvement,” Stiles said.

More information about the organization is available at www.invisiblechildren.com.