When was invisible children started

They were right. By harnessing the power of storytelling, youth idealism, and human empathy, they mobilized millions around the world to raise the banner for LRA-affected communities and move world leaders to take historic action to end the LRA crisis.

In , we were determined to make the world take notice of Kony and his atrocities, and so we created an awareness and advocacy campaign called Kony Learn about the campaign and its accomplishments here. Leaders who are shaping the future of business in creative ways. New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system.

Invisible Children , the nonprofit behind the Kony film—often called the most viral video of all time—is slowly shutting down its operations. First, the U. Then, within 12 to 18 months, Invisible Children will hand off its work on the ground in East Africa to partner organizations.

In a world where the next ice bucket challenge is a tweet away, how the organization handled the rush of cash, rode a wave of criticism, and dealt with the subsequent attention vacuum can be a lesson to every organization hoping for its own viral hit. In March , three young amateur documentary filmmakers from southern California—Russell, Laren Poole, and Bobby Bailey—went to Africa in search of a story.

That story nearly killed them; while in Uganda, a truck bombed by the LRA exploded in front of their eyes. After their experience, the filmmakers spent a month living in northern Uganda, witnessing the children who lived in fear of abduction.

In , their documentary, called Invisible Children: Rough Cut , was released. Over the next few years, the group started doing more work to engage policymakers around finding the LRA leader and rescuing the children he abducted.

The cause started gaining traction. Global Night Commute , an Invisible Children event held in , saw approximately 80, people sleeping in their city centers to raise awareness of the thousands of Ugandan children abducted by Kony. Fatherhood has only strengthened his resolve to do all that he can to help end the scourge of the LRA.

Update : Since its offical launch in , Invisible Children has grown its movement across the United States and also operates offices in Uganda and Congo. Laren Poole and Jason Russell continue their work at Invisible Children, and Bobby is still pursuing his passion in filmmaking, but has moved on to tackle other issues. Skip to content. What Are Upstanders? Take Action Join Events. EIN: Keesey will remain on Invisible Children's board, which will likely continue through the end of , but will only stay on staff to lead the remaining employees for about half the year, he said.

Jason Russell's last day on staff will be this month. On Saturday, Keesey said, the organization gathered employees and alumni to talk about the transition. Invisible Children has posted a message to supporters on its website. Contact Jessica Testa at jessica. Got a confidential tip? Submit it here. A BuzzFeed News investigation, in partnership with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, based on thousands of documents the government didn't want you to see.