Zion Project and Invisible Children

The War in Northern Uganda between the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) and the Ugandan Government can be traced back 23 years and has been regarded as the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today and it has spilled over into conflicts in the DR Congo and Sudan. It is estimated that over 90% of the LRA were abducted as children leaving an entire generation left with scars and shattered lives. While I was in Gulu, the far North of the country, I was able to see and observe two organizations that are committed to being the glue to help piece back together the lives of these child soldiers. The first, Zion Project, was founded by an old friend of mine from Washington, DC, Sarita Hartz. When I met Sarita 6 years ago, she was working with underpriveleged single mothers and had a heart for the continent of AFRICA. Today, she is still working with impoverished mothers, some who have been raped by members of the LRA, and still other former female child soldiers. This time it's in Uganda. Her organization has a holistic approach to healing process seeking to provide programs that deal with spiritual, emotional, and physical restoration. On site at the Zion Project HQ I watched enthusiastic Ugandan ladies dilligantly piecing together gorgeous and colorful handmade necklaces. I also sat through Sarita's counseling classes that deal with getting to the root of the hurt, encouraging forgiveness, and empowering a move forward based in the shelter of the love of God. On a trip to the other side of the town, I visited the "Daughters of Zion" house where young girls below the age of 12 who are loved, counseled, and given a safe haven from the evils of their worlds. The girls were enthusiastic and jubiliant in their interactions with me and it was a true blessing to spend a bit of time with them. I am so amazed by the work that Sarita has done in the past couple of years in her work with these women and children and am looking forward to watching the progress of her vision unfold. During my time in Gulu, I was also able to pop over to 'The Invisible Children' Uganda headquarters to get a feel for the work they are doing. Invisible Children was started after a group of young filmakers from California produced a documentary on the Ugandan Child Soldiers and it spread like wildfire through the US and inspired a movement to make a difference in the lives of these kids. Through mentoring, advocacy, and now microlending projects, the organization has brought massive awareness and is effecting real change in helping to end the violence and bring hope to the nation. There were a couple of projects that they are undergoing that really piqued my interest. The first is a form of microlending that was adapted from a recent Nobel Prize winner's theory and has been proving to be quite successful for the parties involved. The way it works is that 20 people team up and add money to a "pot". From that pot, the individuals apply for a loan from their peers for a specific project that is then approved by the group at an agreed upon payback schedule and interest rate. The model has proven to be extremely productive and successful while the groups are within a 5 mile living radius from one another so they are able to meet on a weekly basis for support and accountability purposes. The other project that fascinated me is one that Invisible Children is teaming up with the UN on implementing in the DR Congo. The UN is providing a form of GPS technology that tracks the whereabouts of the rebel armies based on the ability to track the material of their uniforms. Towers are now being built all over Congo and the technology will allow for about a 5 hour warning window in which individuals will be able to evacuate, hide, and/or generally prepare for a possible attack. It may not be the best and most effective solution, but it is definitely a good start and a way for these otherwise defenseless victims to have some sort of a cushion of security to defend themselves and stay safe. With the work that both Zion Project and Invisible Children and others are doing to alleviate suffering in wartorn East Africa, there is hope for a brighter future.