Invisible Children's Blog

Bracelet Campaign Beneficiaries Celebrate!
- Posted on 03.11.09
By Aida Aguado, Communications Assistant in Uganda

Culturally, the people of Uganda tend to sing and dance very often—it is how they celebrate; how they praise. And experiencing an Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign beneficiary graduation celebration was nothing but cultural, filled with such joyous activities.

After finishing the Savings and Investment Training Initiative (SITI) curriculum, 102 beneficiaries completed the program and are now able to begin their own income-generating activities, setting them on the path to becoming self-sustainable. This is beneficial to those graduating, since they can now handle their own businesses and finances. However, it is also beneficial to others in the IDP camps because Invisible Children will now hire more individuals to become bracelet makers, learn the SITI curriculum, and earn wages to apply that training.

Singing and dancing composed the majority of the ceremony. Though I couldn’t understand most of the songs, as they were in Acholi, you could see the beneficiaries’ happiness on their faces and hear it in their loud voices. One song was in English, and listening to the lyrics filled with gratitude towards IC and its staff was truly amazing. Their dances were beautiful and I was fortunate enough to be pulled out of my seat for some Acholi dance lessons, welcomed by screams of delight and very willing teachers.

The day couldn’t have been complete without the speech given by guest of honor, the RDC of Gulu district (the leader of one of the several tiers of hierarchy in local government). Walter Ochora is a man many had seen from afar before but never shaken hands with. His powerful words were filled with congratulations, encouragement, and an inspiring push for the education of female children—citing Jolly Okot’s (IC’s Country Director in Uganda) education as an example of Uganda’s gain of a great leader. As beneficiaries walked up to receive their certificate from Mr. Ochora, celebratory screams of delight and congratulations could be heard from every direction. It is truly something difficult to describe, and I wish I could better convey to you all the emotion felt throughout the ceremony.

The significance of this event is a lot greater to northern Uganda than I can express in words. These former beneficiaries will now be able to return to their original homes, and once and for all move out of the IDP camps. They will begin their own business ventures, and be able to sustain themselves—hopefully, leading by example and encouraging others to do the same. But most of all, they will be helping in the reconstruction of northern Uganda—not only with their economic successes, but with the simple fact that they are willing to return to some level of normality (or, at least, as normal of a lifestyle as one can expect from East Africa).

Being able to witness how IC is assisting the people of northern Uganda was something I’ll never forget. Moments like those make me incredibly proud to be part of an organization whose desire isn’t simply to aid others, but to empower them.

Related causes: Youth

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