Students Helping African Children

Nicole Brickman
St. Mary's Ryken High School
Leonardtown, MD

More commonly known as SHAC, the organization Students Helping African Children was started at my high school after my classmates and I watched the movie "Invisible Children" in our religion classes. This movie touched so many of us that we wanted to be able to help on a more local level. Soon thereafter, a club was started. The student-run organization raises awareness about the treatment and conditions of the children in Uganda and other African countries that have children in need. The group also runs many fundraisers to raise money to donate to larger organizations that can send the money to Africa and put it to its best use.

Nicole with her SHAC classmates

The majority of the students in the club take part in national fundraisers and awareness rallies. This year we advertised "Displace Me," an awareness campaign at our school, run by the founders and followers of Invisible Children. There are many ways to get involved. You can start by visiting the website at www.invisiblechildren.com. There are many different ways listed for you to get involved and help save the children of Uganda and to help work for peace. There are also many different ways to be a part of the movement. The students at my school created a Myspace area to help spread the word, which you can visit it at www.myspace.com/smr_shac.

Another organization has also been created to support SHAC and its mission, called "hope.peace.home." Everything we do matters to these kids. Right now, they are depending on us to get the message out and to help them.

I take to heart these words from the XIVth Dalai Lama: Human Beings, indeed all-sentient beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and freedom. I encourage everyone to take a stand and represent what matters to you. Remember, you are judged by what you stand for.