A Message From The KidsRock4Kids....

As of June 20, 2008 we have received a little over a $1,000! Thank you to everyone who has so graciously sent letters, donations and words of encouragement. We had no idea when we started this how much of an impact it would have not only on us, but people around us. The spirit and heart of those in our town and elsewhere has been such a source of motivation to keep this growing and improving in the years to come. While Africa is currently our main focus we will begin dual fundraising efforts at the start of the 2008 - 2009 school year to raise funds for families in need in our hometown during the holidays.  Thank you again! We are thrilled that you stopped by.

I Don't Get It. Why Uganda?

While the situation in Uganda has improved since the treaty took place in 2006, the fact remains that there are still tens of thousands of children and teens, just like us, who have been victims of unthinkable violence and heartbreak. Kids our age and even younger live an existence that most of us could not imagine in our wildest dreams. They are still someone's son, daughter, sister and brother even if they are not our own. They still dream, hope, and want a life filled with the same kind of peace that we take for granted every day.  Yes, there are children here who look for basic essentials, they live in meager housing and Christmas is not a toy filled event, however....if you could speak to any former child soldier of the LRA who is now living 50 deep in a hut built for 10, they would tell you that they would gladly trade places with that "poor" child in a heartbeat.

We want it known that we have every intention of helping kids in our own country as well. We are not in any way "anti-US" as some might think. This Christmas we will begin a series of fundraisers to help provide presents and necessities to children here in our own hometown.  The fact is $3,000 in Africa stretches a lot further than it does here. We are but on small group of teens trying to make a difference as we find our own way through life. If our $3,000 can help 50 or 60 children go to school and enjoy the gift of learning and peace of mind, how can any say that we are in the wrong? 

Below are some statements from kids our own age who where "child soldiers" in the Lord's Resistance Army. They have been taken from the Human Rights Watch report on Africa. You can view the entire report by visiting our blog.

Interviews With Former Child Solders 


Charles - Age 15
There had already been rumors that rebels were around, and we were very fearful. My grandmother was hiding in the bush. It was morning, and I was practicing my music when I heard a shot. I started running into the bush, but there was a rebel hiding behind a tree. I thought he would shoot me. He said, "Stop, my friend, don't try to run away!" Then he beat me with the handle of the gun on my back. He ordered me to direct him, and told me that afterwards I would be released.
But afterwards it was quite different. That afternoon we met with a very huge group of rebels, together with so many new captives. We marched and marched. In the bush we came across three young boys who had escaped from the rebels earlier, and they removed the boys' shirts and tied ropes around their throats, so that when they killed them they would make no noise. Then they forced them down and started clubbing their heads, and other rebels came with bayonets and stabbed them. It was not a good sight.		 Thomas - Age 14
In our village, we realized the rebels were coming, and my whole family hid in the bush at night. At dawn, we thought they were gone, and I went back to the compound to fetch food. But they were still there, and they took me. It was very fast. The rest of my family was still in hiding. The rebels had already abducted about a hundred children, and they had looted a lot of foodstuff. But they would just give you only very little food to keep you going.

William - Age 10
I am afraid to go back home to my village, because the rebels are still there in plenty. I fear they will kill me if they come to know of me here. I was in primary three when I was abducted, and I would like to go back to school, if there is somewhere that is safe. I don't know. I am sad now. The other thing I would like to say is that I experienced the deaths of many children. I wish there could be a solution.
 Stephen - Age 17
I went to the elders and I was cleansed: I had to be cleansed because I killed. It does not matter that you did not wish to kill. You still have killed and must become clean again. For me, I am older, and I think I will be all right. But I am thinking that it is the young boys and young girls who will not be all right. I am very much interested to go back to school. So for now I am just here, and I am feeling okay. But I don't feel yet free, because of some dreams that can come at night, because of the bad things that happened to me in the bush. Killing people, dead bodies, the sound of gunshots--sometimes you wake up and it is as though that is what is still taking place. Life with the rebels was really very bad.