The Programs of Invisible Children

As part of our Invisible Children (IC from now on) Teacher Exchange orientation, we visited the IC offices and met with Andrew, the communications director, who spoke to us about IC and its programs. IC has two arms: the US arm and the Ugandan arm. The US arm is based out of San Diego, California and is focused solely on fundraising and advocacy. The Uganda arm is based in Gulu and is solely focused on program implementation. IC Uganda has four main outreach programs currently working: Legacy Scholarships (formally known as the Visible Child Scholarship), Schools for Schools, Village Savings and Loan (VSAL), and MEND. They are all amazing programs, and the ultimate goal is for each program to become self-sustaining so that Invisible Children no longer needs to be in Uganda. For more information about each program, you can visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
IC is currently providing 559 secondary school scholarships and 181 university scholarships. The unique thing about the Legacy Scholarship is that it provides a mentor for each student to track the student’s success and coordinate between the student, the school and the parents. Students are chosen based on vulnerability and academic potential.
Schools for Schools is currently partnering with 11 schools in northern Uganda to rebuild facilities and provide teacher training. The school gives IC a wish list of needs and IC works with engineers to see that it happens. In order to participate, the school must be able to pay 5% of the building costs because it is assumed that 5% of the building cost is what it takes to maintain the building once it is built.
The Village Savings and Loan (VSLA) emerged out of the Bracelet Campaign. There are currently 20 groups with 20 members each who contribute to the “community pot” each week and then borrow small loans from it. It is a program that has been implemented in lots of places with enormous success. I would actually like to start a VSLA with some friends back at home.
Lastly MEND currently has 13 formerly abducted female children, most of whom were “brides” to the LRA commanders, who have been trained in tailoring. They produce handbags to sell outside of Gulu. This program has given these girls a life for them and their children that they would not have had because of their past (they would have been ostracized from their community).
IC is different from other NGOs because it has Ugandans focusing on the problems and creating the solutions rather than westerners coming in saying what needs to be done. I continue to be amazed by the thoughtfulness that IC does and the critical thinking it does on a regular basis to make sure they are truly helping the community. It is a great organization