Invisible Children Tour Stops at Centenary Oct. 28

SHREVEPORT, La— The atrocities of Africa's longest running war and the abduction of children forced to become soldiers are the subject of the film, Invisible Children: The Rescue which will be shown in the Kilpatrick Auditorium at Centenary College, Wednesday, Oct. 28 beginning at 6 p.m.

In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.

After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda's night commuters and child soldiers. They discovered the Lord's Resistance Army, 90 percent of which is abducted children. The children had been taken from their homes, and forced to be soldiers by the LRA leader Joseph Kony. Numerous peace talks have been proposed, all of which Kony has refused. His terrors have spread from Northern Uganda into Sudan, Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Because of this, Kony is the first man indicted by the International Criminal Court.

The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.

The film that will be shown at Centenary College documents the events of December 2008, in which Kony agreed to sign a peace treaty. The film takes viewers inside the hidden LRA camp and face to face with the abducted child soldiers. Kony never comes out of hiding to sign the treaty and on Christmas day massacres more than 600 people in the Congo. The film continues with a recent update of The Rescue event, and what must be done now to rescue Joseph Kony's child soldiers.

A question and answer period will follow the screening. For more information, contact Krista McKinney at email.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.