It's an unthinkable crime that's happening what might appear a world away, but you can help put an end to it. A group of Yorkton youth have jumped on board with the Kony 2012 effort and they're hoping to get the support of local residents to help raise awareness about Joseph Kony who is being dubbed, "the world's worst war criminal."
In 1987 Kony took over the leadership of an existing rebel group in Uganda. He renamed it the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). The LRA has since earned a reputation for its cruel and brutal tactics. When Kony found himself running out of fighters, he began abducting young children whom he recruited as soldiers or "wives" for his officers. The LRA - with children among the ranks - is encouraged to rape, mutilate and kill civilians.
While the LRA is no longer active in Northern Uganda where it originated, it lives on in other areas. In it's 26 year history the LRA has abducted more than 30,000 children and displaced at least 2.1 million people.
A group called "Invisible Children" has been working for the last nine years to draw attention to the matter and now, with the help of a video - called Kony 2012 - has a goal of stopping Kony and disarming the LRA.
With the video now circulating across the globe, groups are popping up in support of the effort and a Yorkton group has also jumped on board. Organized by Yorkton Regional High School students Jenna Boychuk, Zac Walters and Lindsay Villeneuve, as well as Canora resident Dallon Leger, the local youth have planned a Yorkton event and hope to make as many aware of what's going on as possible.
Boychuk, Walters and Leger were on hand recently for an interview with The News Review to talk about the local effort and how you too can get involved.
"I learned about the effort on Facebook," says Leger, "I was blown away and knew I wanted to get involved." All four individuals in agreement, a Yorkton effort was born.
"The video Kony 2012... makes people aware of what's happening in Uganda and other parts of Africa..." says Boychuk, adding it was a very difficult piece to watch.
"It was hard... it shows pictures of kids with guns, AK 47's... these are kids, they need help. We're not in Uganda, we're here but we're going to do what we can..." While disturbing at parts, the video is necessary, say those involved, to get the point of urgency across.
"People all over the world have been watching the video, the first night I watched it there was about 100,000 viewers. When I woke up the next morning, there was four million and it keeps climbing from there..."
The attention has spurred the declaration of a universal event called "Cover the Night," to be held on April 20 across the globe and in Yorkton.
"On this day, at 10:30 at night we're going to start putting up posters all around town trying to cover all the buildings telling people who Joseph Kony is. Basically what we're trying to do is get the word out there. If people know, they can actually do something to help," says Boychuk.
Now on the run from the authorities, Joseph Kony will have fewer and fewer places to hide if the whole world is involved in his capture.
While firm plans aren't in place as of yet, the group is planning events leading up to April 20 in an effort to garner as much attention as possible... Among the ideas are entertainment in the form of live bands and a barbecue. The group that started out as four, is now growing. Four hundred have confirmed attendance and Leger says they expect at least a thousand to turn out.
"I think it's important to show that our community, even though it's a small community, we can still do something to help. Africa is a fair ways away and we're just small city Yorkton, but we can make a difference..."
To get involved locally, be sure to set aside some time to attend the upcoming event. Volunteers will be welcomed for both during the event and after when clean up will be required. The plan is to meet at City Centre Park. Details, as they unfold, can be learned on Facebook at: Kony 2012 Yorkton.
There are also two websites: invisiblechildren.com or kony2012.com where you can learn more about the effort and view the video.
Aside from the event, and beyond, residents are encouraged to write letters to the Prime Minister and a variety of other individuals whose names and contact information appear on the aforementioned website to keep the ball rolling.
