Jolly: the woman with the dream.

Invisible Children would not have been possible without Ms. Laker Jolly Grace Okot. She is responsible for the filmmakers introduction to Northern Uganda, and is still at the forefront of our efforts on the ground. Jolly is our inside informant, our African mother, and our friend. Invisible Children is proud of Jollys recent nomination for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, for her rehabilitation efforts in Northern Uganda. Jolly has been an inspiration to us all, and we are honored to have her work with us to end the repression In Northern Uganda through education. Jolly has been working through her own foundation H.E.A.L.S., a play therapy program which has now merged with IC toward the execution of the Invisible Children Education Program. She is responsible for advising any IC staff on culture and tradition, and keeping the program running in Uganda. Jolly is a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother. When Jolly is not working for the children in Northern Uganda, she is at home with own children: Daniel, Davis, and Danika (or baby D), and her loving husband, Emmy.

In 2003, Jolly Okot brought the filmmakers to Northern Uganda in hopes that her dream would one day come to fruition: thousands of Acholi children given the chance to succeed through education.

She knew that if the filmmakers saw the thousands of children fleeing their homes and sleeping in the streets, they would not be able to ignore them. She was right.

Now Invisible Children Inc. is dedicated to educating the children of Uganda, as well as raising awareness on what the U.N. has deemed the greatest emergency in the world today involving children; A movement began because Jolly believed that these children deserve the worlds attention.

Jolly is still at the forefront of our efforts on the ground in Uganda, and is now responsible for advising any IC staff on culture and tradition, as well as keeping the program running in Uganda, primarily by Ugandans.

JACOB: the boy who cried.

On the first night in Northern Uganda the three filmmakers met Jacob at the bus park. Jacob, a former child soldier, was taken from his home, and robbed of his education. After escaping the bush at 14, he dreamed of returning to school to become a lawyer, but did not have the means to do so. At the end of the Invisible Children: Rough Cut, Jacob says, I have nothing. I dont even have a blanket. We dont have anything to do with food. Maybe we can eat once a day so it is better when you kill us. And, if possible you can kill us, you kill us. For us, we dont want now to stay. no one taking care of us. We are not going to school... Immediately after saying this, the filmmakers cried with him.

For the first time, it was understood what the children affected by this war felt; and what these children wanted. In 2003 the filmmakers made a promise, as friends, to pay Jacobs way through school. Under Jollys constant watchful eye, Jacob has had much success in school, and has benefited immensely from her guidance. But he is just one boy.The filmmakers thought, If this bond between child and mentor helps make a difference, maybe it can change lives on a larger scale. And so they put it to work.

At only 16, Jacob provoked Invisible Children Inc.s belief of education as a way to freedom.Jacob, without knowing it, has turned Jollys dream into a reality. Jacob, the quiet boy with the contagious laugh, has sparked a fire that will eventually give thousands of children the freedom to learn.

                                                

"One by one, they step forward: a nurse, a teacher, a homemaker. And lives are saved. But the problem is enormous - every three seconds. One person dies; another three seconds, one more. The situation is so desperate in parts of Africa, Asia, even America. That aid groups, just as they did for the tsunami, are uniting as one, acting as one. We can beat extreme poverty, starvation, AIDS. But we need your help. One more person, letter, voice, will mean the difference between life and death for millions of people. Please join us by working together. We can make history. We can start to make poverty history. One by one by one. Please visit one at this address [http://www.one.org]. We're not asking for your money, we're asking for your voice."

"Um a um, eles seguem adiante: uma enfermeira, uma professora, uma dona-de-casa. E vidas são salvas. Mas o problema é enorme: a cada três segundos, uma pessoa morre; outros três, e mais uma. A situação é desesperadora em certas regiões da África, Ásia, e até mesmo da América. Esse grupo de apoio, assim como fizeram no incidente da tsunami, estão se unindo, trabalhando juntos. Nós podemos vencer a extrema pobreza, a fome, a AIDS. Mas nós precisamos de sua ajuda. Mais uma pessoa, uma carta, uma voz, significará a diferença entre a vida e a morte para milhões de pessoas. Por favor, junte-se a nós trabalhando conosco. Nós podemos fazer história. Podemos começar a fazer da pobreza história. Um a um, a um. Por favor, visite o endereço [http://www.one.org]. Não estamos pedindo seu dinheiro, estamos pedindo sua voz."