Lynchburg College will be hosting a week of activities March 8-15 to shine a light on genocide, violence, and health crises in much of the world, particularly Africa. The keynote speaker, Grace Akallo, was captured in northern Uganda at age 15, taken to Sudan, and forced to kill or be killed. She will be giving a talk at 7 p.m. Friday, March 14 in Hopwood Auditorium. The talk is free and open to the public.
The 28 students in Dr. Todd Olsen's health promotion service learning class, along with students from the LC Invisible Children Street Team, the Bonner Leaders Program, the College's Amnesty International chapter, and STAND (Students Taking Action Now for Darfur), have planned the week's activities.
Gaining an understanding about the terrible conditions that much of the world lives in has been tough. "I actually was a little depressed about it," said Josh Dalton, a junior health promotion major. "I never thought about it. You also tend to block it out."
Throughout the week, Global Health Tents will fill the LC Dell as students present information on HIV/AIDS, malaria, rape and violence, malnutrition, and water-borne diseases. A simulated African mud hut and meal will also be among the exhibits.
Special guest speakers and events are planned for 7 p.m. each day March 10-14 in Hopwood Auditorium.
Saturday, March 8: The week kicks off with a "Gifts for Gulu Soccer Extravaganza," co-sponsored by Sports Outreach, Orthopaedic Center of Central Virginia, Riverside Runners, and Lynchburg United Soccer. The day's events include a tournament, clinics, and exhibition games. Attendees are asked to bring new and used athletic equipment and clothing to be shipped to Uganda. For the complete schedule, check: www.giftsforgulu.com.
Monday, March 10: Andrew Briggs will share his experiences founding "Freedom in Creation," an arts-based advocacy project to help children in war-afflicted northern Uganda. A native of Fairfax, Va., Briggs currently works with the Washington Arts Group and SAI, a green homes builder in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, March 11: Invisible Children: The Rough Cut is a film about the plight of child soldiers and night commuters in northern Uganda. The documentary was filmed in 2003 when three young men from Southern California - Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole traveled to Sudan "to find a story."
In northern Uganda they discovered thousands of people affected by the brutality and attacks of a rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The documentary chronicles their experience as young Americans learning firsthand about a conflict largely unknown to the international community. The filmmakers have gone on to found a nonprofit called Invisible Children, Inc. A team from Invisible Children will be at the LC screening.
Since the movie was filmed in 2003, night commuting has largely ceased in northern Uganda and peace talks are currently under way. But displacement camps, sickness, and an unhealthy economy persist. These three young men remain instrumental are working on a feature-length film, tentatively scheduled for release in 2009.
Wednesday, March 12: Community Genocide Panel/ Open Forum - Lynchburg College and the Dimensions of Health and Wellness class will host a panel and forum to discuss the theme of the week "Through the Eyes of a Child - Putting a Face on Genocide." The panel will include campus leaders and activists as well as local non-government organizations (NGOs) like Sports Outreach.
Thursday, March 13: Ed Lyons, ministry advancement coordinator for the Persecution Project Foundation, will talk about this organization, founded in 1998, for collecting and disseminating information about worldwide religious persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, with a focus on Africa. Operating out of a base camp in northern Kenya, the group has flown thousands of tons of emergency humanitarian relief to victims throughout southern Sudan.
Dr. Todd Olsen, professor of epidemiology in the Department of Health and Human Performance, will share his presentation, "The Road to Gulu-The Global Health Implications of Genocide," which highlights his experience last summer in northern Uganda with Sports Outreach.
Friday, March 14: Grace Akallo will tell her story, "Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children." In 1996, at age 15, Grace and 138 classmates were dragged away from their school by members of the LRA and taken to Sudan. The school's deputy headmistress, Sister Rachelle Fassera, followed the rebels into the bush and pleaded for her students' release. They released 109 girls, but kept Grace and 29 others. Grace was abused and forced to commit atrocities against civilians and her own fellow captives. One night, after seven months in captivity, Grace and other children were ordered to invade a village. Grace fainted from thirst, and woke in a shallow grave. She walked for three days, eating soil and leaves, and convinced other escaped children to join her until they were found by villagers and turned over to Ugandan soldiers. She has testified before Congress and is now dedicated to spreading the word about these atrocities.
Saturday, March 15: 5K Race and children's One-Mile Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. on Shellenberger Field. Prizes of African art will be awarded. For more information, contact Dr. Todd Olsen at 544-8491 or olsen.t@lynchburg.edu.
At 2 p.m., LC students will have a Dodge Ball Tournament at Wake Field House.
At 6 p.m., the Invisible Children "Roadies," traveling advocates for peace, will present videos and speak about genocide and the Invisible Children organization in the Memorial Ballroom of Hall Campus Center. Pizza will be provided by Bonner Leaders.
From 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m., is "Invisible Children Displace Me Night" in which students will sleep outside in the Dell in shelters they create with cardboard boxes. They will be given only crackers and water for the night.