I believe the best life lived, is a life lived in service of one another. Invisible Children is a organization that has officially come to an end of an era. IC served and inspired millions, and their impact will ripple into generations to come.
In 10 years thousands of students learned that their voice could change a humanitarian crisis. That when their "liberty was bound together", remote evil could be fought and constitutional bills could be signed into U.S. law .
"Rewards for Justice” bill signed into U.S. law by President Obama January 15, 2013
I saw the organization in two words: awareness and action.
Both arms of impact were incredibly successful.
KONY 2012 was the most viewed YouTube video of all time. On the ground in Uganda, two million people are no longer displaced. Thousands of child soldiers have been rescued, rehabilitated and returned back home to their community. Deaths decreased 92%, and 84 million dollars was invested into the ongoing work and programs that was once deemed the "biggest neglected humanitarian emergency in the world".
They encouraged young people that "you will never feel ready", and "jump first, fear later".
IC was at the forefront of the advocacy and social justice movement. Because of this movement, corporations now realize that their newest consumer deeply cares about how the company is making a difference in the world. Not only in donated dollars but in action.
We watched messaging at all corporate levels shift during this decade to adjust to the demand. Ever pressing onward, IC challenged us to look at the impact locally and globally. They encouraged us to ask the right questions of non profit organizations and for profit corporations. Our generations collective voice participated in response to these challenges through newly emerging social media channels. IC welded the strongest hold of these active young participants.
During this decade, we learned the power of story. (Jacob's Story was a foundational part of grass roots movement which highlighted how the LRA was radically dismantling communities). They asked us to dig deeper into the projects and passions that personally moved us. What was our story?
They lead all of these ideas by living through example.
This chapter of IC is over. They have narrowed their focus; they will maintain a small team to continue the mission of bringing Joseph Kony to justice. They are preserving the remaining resources raised to fund the work in Uganda. Leadership is working on a strategic plan to hand off all operations and empower the local leaders to continue the healing process.
Stateside, IC will close it's headquarters in San Diego but continue its congressional advocacy in Washington DC. Most importantly, they did not forget about each volunteer, employee and participant throughout the years. They have asked us to commit to Citizen: A volunteer activist network committed to stopping LRA violence through political advocacy.
To have been apart of this chapter, has been a great honor. What remains of IC are the lives of countless people who deeply understand that it is possible to change the course of history. Now we are empowered to make bold decisions, actively learn, and speak when we feel the words burning inside our hearts. Most importantly, we now have a constant reminder of good in this world.
The millennial's not only want to see a better world, they now have the confidence to shape it.