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In Northern Uganda, over 7800 children have been abducted by a rebel force known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to serve as child soldiers. Each night some 30 000 children, referred to as the Night Commuters, walk 10km to avoid abduction and to reach a safer community. For many the destination of the nightly walk is the community of Gulu. The GuluWalk, a non-government organization focuses on supporting these children of Northern Uganda. The support focuses on education, peace and rehabilitation for these victims of civil unrest.
When learning about the atrocities of the Acholi people of Uganda, a group of M.M. Robinson students in Burlington, set out to make a difference. We are students in a World Issues geography class. Our class of twenty- six, worked to think of creative ways to inform the rest of the students in our high school. We began to peek the interest of the other students around the school through a night commute of our own, a 20 minute walk around the school in pitch black hallways. Furthermore, through a 10-minute power point and live presentation, not only did we inform the student body of this tragedy but also the teaching staff. It was an eye-opening presentation that gained praise throughout the school.
Initially, as a class we had a goal of raising $500. We took time to ask for donations from family and friends and prepared a school-wide bake sale in hopes of surpassing this goal. We were thrilled with the support of our friends and families as we were able to exceed this amount, raising over $2700.
Finally, after increasing the awareness in our school, the World Issues students of M.M Robinson, joined by family and friends, participated in the worldwide GULUWALK on October 21, 2006. Overall, the event was a major success and raised over $500,000 for programs for the children of Uganda, a generation left behind..
-- Grace Park and Nicole Mackenzie, Grade 12 students, M. M. Robinson High School |
