The Lord's Resistance Army

Imagine a family walking through a field in Central Africa when suddenly attacked by armed soldiers. The soldiers force the children to kill their parents during their abduction. This is a frequent occurrence in Africa where the Lord’s Resistance Army is lurking. Child abductions are a huge problem in Central Africa because after being abducted girls are often forced to marry commanders and there are few reception centers available for care after being saved. The Lord’s Resistance Army is still a problem in Africa; however, Invisible Children can help. The Lord’s Resistance Army is a huge problem in Central Africa. Countless children are abducted to become soldiers in Uganda for the Lord’s Resistance Army. An investigation by The Huffington Post found that The LRA has abducted “children in unprecedented numbers in the Central African Republic this year - suggesting that the group is trying to refill its ranks with child soldiers.” (Alfred 1-2). The LRA abducting people is a big problem because if the LRA wipes out a whole generation of African kids, there will be nobody to shape the future of Africa and run it. There would be a huge gap where there would be nobody to do the jobs required for cities to run, people to eat, and Africa to thrive. Many child soldiers who are abducted are girls and are more vulnerable to abuse and rape. An article from Newsweek states that the LRA is forcing commanders upon young girls who have been abducted, to serve as wives (Ronan 3). Forcing women to marry commanders is a problem because the effects of rape and abuse by the commanders could be life changing for the women’s lives and may even ruin their lives forever. PTSD can occur in rape and abuse victims which can also lead to anxiety that the abuse will …show more content…
In 2002 Jason Russell graduated from college and went on a trip to Central Africa where he saw the problem first hand. When he got home he founded Invisible Children and raised awareness about the issue. According to The Washington Post, what Jason witnessed in Africa was turned into a video called KONY 2012 which was highly controversial but gives an idea of what Africa is like in LRA territory. (Flock 3). To be able to have a connection with what is happening in Africa, to develop an interest a person needs to be able to witness what is happening. Not everyone can go to Africa but most people have access to a computer to watch KONY 2012 to develop a connection and start to care. Invisible children helps to put systems in place to help warn the communities of the LRA being near. Invisible Children set up the “Early Warning Radio Network” which is a “high frequency, two-way, long range radio” that helps warn communities and villages that the LRA getting close. (Early 1). If villages are warned that the LRA is coming in their direction, the leaders of the area can put plans into place for the safety of their citizens. Without the system many more people would be affected. Teens can help Invisible Children by sharing their website on social media to help raise awareness for the cause. If every person in Sycamore High School shares their website and everyone who sees it on social media shares it again and again and some of them donate, Invisible Children will spread like wildfire. Invisible Children is an organization working to solve the issue of children being abducted in