Beacons of Hope
LUC's Invisible Conflicts brings education and energy to war-torn Uganda
For some Loyola University Chicago students, receiving phone calls from Uganda is a normal part of the week. When Nathan Mustain (Pre-med '08) and Morgan Smith (Nursing '09) formed an independent student group called Invisible Conflicts in the spring of 2006, two worlds converged.
Invisible Conflicts was created to address a war in Uganda, which has been called the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world today. Since 1987, a guerrilla militia known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA ) has waged war against the Ugandan government from its bases in the northern Ugandan regions of Acholiland and Gulu. In the 20 years that the conflict has been raging, over two million innocent civilians have been caught in the middle. As support for the rebel cause dwindled and the LRA became desperate for soldiers, children began to be abducted and indoctrinated into their ranks. It is estimated that between 25 and 66 thousand children have been abducted from their homes over the past 20 years. Nearly 90 percent of the rebel ranks are believed to be children soldiers.
In February of 2006, Mustain and Smith joined forces when they realized that they were both trying to plan a Lake Shore Campus screening of Invisible Children, a film that discusses the situation in northern Uganda. That first screening brought in over 700 people. It turned out to be indicative of the momentum and overwhelming student interest that would propel Invisible Conflicts forward for months to come. Mustain and Smith met to decide the next plan of action. Invisible Conflicts was born.
"Our mission is to expose the hidden conflicts that happen throughout the world that the West doesn't acknowledge in the media," Smith says. "Whether it's in Uganda, El Salvador, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, we want to provide hope to those areas by raising awareness and funds."
In addition to cooperating with the national nonprofit organization Invisible Children, Loyola's Invisible Conflicts organized many new projects on its own. The largest of these was the founding of the Dwon Madiki Partnership, a primary education program. "Dwon madiki" means "the voice of tomorrow" in Luo, the language of the Acholi tribe in Gulu.
In December 2007, the IC Plunge—during which Loyola students jump into chilly Lake Michigan—raised $15,000 for Dwon Madiki.
"We were able to cover the education, school books, uniforms, and cultural programs for 21 children in Gulu," says Smith. The Dwon Madiki Partnership also has after-school and summer programs. Eventually, Mustain and Smith hope the Dwon Madiki Partnership will become a holistic organization providing not only education, but health care as well.
Invisible Conflicts sent four Loyola students to Gulu in the summer of 2007 to assess the needs of the Dwon Madiki Partnership, work with other nongovernmental organizations, and spend time with families in the town. They are planning to send students to Uganda again in the summer of 2008.
Lisa Reitz (English '08)
For more information or to find ways to contribute, visit invisibleconflicts.org or e-mail Morgan Smith at morganeliz@gmail.com.