Westminster College's Drinko Center and Peace Studies to Host Invisible Children Program

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College's Drinko Center for Experiential Learning and the Peace Studies Program will be hosting a screening of "Invisible Children" Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Lakeview Witherspoon Rooms in McKelvey Campus Center. The event is free to the public.

For over two decades Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army have been abducting children in East and Central Africa, often training them to fight, sending young girls into the sex trade or making them their wives. The documentary film is intended to shed light on these abductions of children and to bring an end to the crisis in that region. After the screening a Ugandan speaker will discuss his memories of growing up in fear of Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army.

The documentary was produced by the Invisible Children Program. According to the website the program is "geared towards civilian protection, encouraging defections, and for rehabilitation of former abductees of the Lord's Resistance Army."

Funds from the program are used for the Early Warning HF Radio Network to warn civilians about an upcoming attack; counseling and vocational training for former abductees; scholarships for those impacted by the crisis, and more. To learn more visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

"We have decided to bring back the Invisible Children program because it is a great way to keep students informed about things happening outside of Westminster's campus," said Sarah Carlson, a junior early childhood education/special education major, and coordinator of the event. "I am looking forward to this viewing because it will not only be a campus-wide event, but it is now open to the public and, more specifically, to students from New Wilmington High School. The more people that come to hear about this global issue and learn how they can make a difference, the better it is for the people of East and Central Africa."

Carlson is a daughter of Eric Haurilesko and Patricia Carlson-Haurilesko of Trafford and a graduate of Penn-Trafford High School. She is a participant of the AmeriCorps Education Award program for students who complete 300 hours of community service over one year.

Volunteerism and civic engagement is integral to Westminster College's mission to apply knowledge to contemporary issues, demonstrate moral and ethical commitments to neighbor, society, and the natural world, and to demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning and the acquisition of skills for careers and responsible service as world citizens. Westminster students have many opportunities to get involved in the community through students organizations, Greek life, Chapel programs, service-learning courses, and more.

The Drinko Center for Experiential Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. 

For additional information on the screening email Carlson.

More Stories