Dear Friends and Family,
I have long been a proponent that actions speak louder than words. After graduating from Drexel in September of 2011, I had decided to take a leap of faith and apply for a position with Invisible Children, a non-profit organization I have supported and advocated over the past six years. I’m thrilled to share the news that after the longest and most intensive application process I have ever been through, I was selected as one of the handful of individuals that will be interning with the organization in the spring of 2012. I’m looking forwards to seeing the difference between simply supporting and actually being a part of something I believe is truly special.
What is Invisible Children? “Invisible Children uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in Central Africa to peace and prosperity.” Joseph Kony is a rebel leader, a self-proclaimed prophet, a terrorist, and a murderer, who has commanded the Lord’s Resistance Army for over two decades now. Through intimidation, fear, and manipulation, he has forced mainly children to fight for him, and he is responsible for numerous crimes against humanity. President Obama has recently sent over 100 U.S. troops to central Africa in hopes of capturing Kony, and to bring him to justice. Invisible Children has been an active leader in protecting civilians, rehabbing former child soldiers, building communities and schools, and actively advocating and pushing for an end to the longest running war in Africa.
What will my job be? After a month of intensive training in California, I will be joining three other similarly-minded individuals and one Ugandan individual (who has seen the war first-hand), and traveling around Ontario and Quebec in a van to speak in front of thousands of people at high schools, colleges, and places of worship. I’ll be showing their documentary, selling merchandise, and raising awareness and support for Invisible Children across the Canada for ten weeks. At the end of the day, I hope to educate the public on the difficulties and hardships faced halfway across the globe in Central Africa, and what they can do to help.
Why I need your help: Since Invisible Children is a non-profit, I will be volunteering free of pay for four months. You may be asking why Invisible Children doesn’t pay for this? The answer is simply because we all feel that the money raised by Invisible Children should go directly to supporting their projects on the ground in Central Africa and the efforts to end the war. However, they recognize that their interns will need help and support along the way, and you can make a tax-deductible donation to help me eat, travel, and survive on the road. Any amount is greatly appreciated (even a dollar!), and any money left over will be automatically donated into the organization’s general fund.
Donating Online: Since Invisible Children is a certified 501(C)(3) organization any support given is tax-deductible; however, all proceeds will still go directly toward supporting me as the recipient. You can make a tax-deductible donation online directly into my account with Invisible Children at https://invisiblechildren.secure.force.com/pmtx/Donations_IC_DirectSupport?id=70170000000jklGAAQ
Donating Via Check: You can make donations in the form of a check payable to Invisible Children, Inc. but you must specify “Justin Peterson Direct Support” on the memo line. This allows the money to be tax deductible but credited directly to me.
Invisible Children, Inc: Direct Support
1620 Fifth Ave, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
Regardless of whether you choose to donate, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. My primary goal is to educate as many people as I can about the atrocities that have and continue to take place in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and surrounding countries, and if you’ve made it this far into the letter, then I’ve accomplished my job. I look forwards to sharing my experience with all of you, and can be contacted if you have further questions.
Thanks for all of your support,
Justin Peterson
P.S. For more information on Invisible Children, watch one of their videos at http://invisiblechildren.com/videos
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