SALT LAKE CITY — Emily Burchett, a sophomore at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, is a very lucky girl. She bought an Invisible Children DVD and won one of three Golden Tickets that were distributed worldwide. A group of roadies from Invisible Children came to Judge Memorial Nov. 7, and to Juan Diego Catholic High School Nov. 10, to put on an assembly. The assemblies were in combination with the work these two schools have been doing for Invisible Children over the past few years. Prior to winning the Golden ticket, Burchett told a friend, "I have to win a Golden Ticket," and she did. "Last year I really wanted to get involved. I told my father and I told my counselor that this is something I really want to do. Even my English teacher, Jeff Baird, had us write a paper about what we wanted to do. I wrote that I wanted to go to Africa with the Invisible Children. So it is all so crazy that within this year I have really been considering going, wanting to get involved, and now I am going. I really think God wants me to go to Uganda. "I was in the cafeteria at the time Emily opened the DVD and her ticket," said Vice Principal George Angelo. "To see her tears of joy was a very moving moment. It was a beautiful moment to see the excitement in a child that really wants to serve people, and now has that opportunity. The Invisible Children’s video "Go" is a very moving story about the children of Uganda and the war-torn country of Uganda. It captivated the spirit and heart of Judge today. "The students were able to purchase T-shirts®, videos, and bracelets throughout all three lunches, and the students were very excited. The moment Emily opened up her DVD was a magical moment. We are proud of her and she will represent us well." "It is all so surreal," said Burchett. "I don’t remember what I did when I opened the DVD, but I definitely cried. The DVDs were on sale in the cafeteria during lunch following the assembly and I had to buy one." The roadie team from Invisible Children visits schools and talks about the DVD "Go," as well as how to get involved with the Invisible Children program. They show the DVD about Northern Uganda and the experience the Invisible Children representatives have in Uganda, as well as the invisible children. In the DVD it states, the war in Uganda is not over and the rebel leader Joseph Koni is still at large. Many acts of terror still happen. Because of the devastation caused by war, people are displaced in camps and thousands are still dying. They have no homes to return to, and the children have no access to education. The Invisible Children are responding to the crisis by providing an Invisible Child scholarship program. There is also the Schools for Schools program for which Judge Memorial and Juan Deigo students have been raising money to build schools in Uganda. "We have been holding fund raisers for the Invisible Children at Judge by selling bracelets, and through free dress days," said Burchett. Amanda Lazinski, Judge Memorial Campus Minister, said "Judge has been involved in the Invisible Children program for two years. They have raised $3,000 this year and are still in the process of raising more. They are participating through a peer ministry class and social justice class. For three Friday’s in a row, they had free dress and either brought in $5 or five books. The Invisible Children have a book drive. Their goal is to collect 10,000 books by the end of Catholic Schools week. If they hit that number, Invisible Children will send a truck to pick up the books. Only four percent of students in Uganda have a chance to read. Roadie Seth Williams went to Uganda for three months. He said the ultimate lesson you learn when you go is that, "You can’t save them, but you can love them." "If anything, they taught me more about faith and life than I could ever teach them," said Williams. "I think it is all really about loving them. I went into Invisible Children thinking that I could save the world, and that could be a big deal. But we are not a big deal. I took two years off of college to travel around and be inspired by what people like you have been doing for the Invisible Children. Juan Diego raised $50,000 in the past two years. That is huge. I hear you are doing just as well this year." Jessa Brocklebank, a senior at Juan Diego said they have received donations and had fund raisers such as selling merchandise – Beloved Bags, with the continent of Africa stitched on them. They also have sold necklaces, sweatshirts, had a benefit hockey game, and stood outside Wal-Mart for a day collecting donations. The Dance Company also did a benefit concert. "We have 68 members in our Invisible Children group, and we meet once a week," said Brocklebank. "I have learned so much from belonging to this group, even little things like how to count money, different ways to get people to bring in money, and how much just one teenager can do. The Invisible Children people let you know you really are important and that you can and have made a difference. It is so rewarding. We go in thinking we are going to save Africa, but in turns out, they save us." Marianne Rozsahegyi, Juan Diego Invisible Children advisor, said this program started as part of Juan Diego’s film festival they do every year to raise awareness on human rights abuses. It was such a moving film that the student body really reacted with a great deal of compassion and began their involvement with Invisible Children and Schools for Schools. The first year they raised $35,000. The second year they proposed it to other elementary and middle schools as part of Catholic Schools Week, and together they raised another $22,000. "We had the privilege of having two graduates and a former teacher go to Uganda last year," said Rozsahegyi. "Claire Cushing is on a roadie team with them this year, and Amanda Cupido is involved with Schools for Schools at Colorado University. Students realize they can make a difference, and change the world through their gifts."
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