Graceful Side to Uganda
Ugandan women share their stories in hopes of awareness
Posted on February 25, 2008
As three-month old sat on the table, supported by his mother’s arms, he was unaware of her past or present lives. He didn’t know that his mother, Grace Akallo, grew up in Uganda, was kidnapped at the age of 15, and forced to fight for Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. After seven months of this brutal life and after seeing deaths and hoping for her own death, she escaped.
Now, Akallo wants to help children that are still struggling in the war-torn region of Northern Uganda, and has brought that hope to JMU.
Akallo came with Sarita Hartz, a 2002 graduate and director of Zion Project, as part of University Program Board’s Uganda Child Soldier Awareness Week.
After traveling to Uganda in 2006, Hartz was shocked by what she saw. She founded Zion Project, a Christian nonprofit organization to help girls affected in Uganda.
“I was shocked with how the rest of the world knew so little about these issues in Northern Uganda,” Hartz said.
With the LRA, Kony has enlarged his army to fight against the government by abducting over 50,000 children during the 21-year civil war.
“It’s the fact that children are involved that draws people to the issue,” Akallo said.
“They’re being taken away, and no one else is taking care of them. The world doesn’t listen to their cry, just the cries of grown-ups.”
Emma Smith, a member of the arts and entertainment committee of UPB, said she read about Hartz’s organization online.
“I thought, this girl’s really cool,” Smith said. “She helped get everyone that emailed her from JMU connected together, and then we talked about Akallo coming, and thought it would be even better to have a week of events.”
The largest event was on Tuesday when Akallo spoke in Wilson Hall. Michael Poffenberger, executive director of Resolve Uganda, and Betty Bigombe, a chief peace negotiator in Uganda, also spoke.
“Having Bigombe here was a huge deal,” Smith said. “She’s in Wikipedia for crying out loud!”
Hartz estimated that over 800 people attended.
“These were huge speakers in terms of the rest of the world,” Hartz said.
Freshman media arts and design major Danielle Koehler was also impressed with the speakers.
“When we were listening to Grace speak, it was extremely evident that some of the things were hard for her to say and that she wasn’t as comfortable in the spotlight as the others,” Koehler said. “She held her head very low, with just the utmost modesty, when they were introducing her. It’s so obviously not for the fame she receives. That’s not why she wrote the book or why she gives speeches on the subject. She feels like she has to.”
The week of events began with the opening of “Through her Eyes” at Prism Gallery on Saturday, an exhibit of photos taken by child soldiers with cameras given by Zion Project. On Monday, there was a showing of the film “Uganda Rising.” Akallo read an excerpt from her book, “Girl Soldier,” answered questions, and signed books on Wednesday. The week concluded with a benefit concert on Saturday featuring Electric Pool Party.
Koehler said that Hartz’s efforts, as well as those of the other speakers, are inspirational.
“It made me realize that although we are all just young adults, still figuring out what we want to make of our own lives, we can still radically take part in changing humanitarian issues such as what’s going on in Uganda,” she said.
Hartz said that she has been active in various issues ever since becoming a student at JMU. Though she said the work is hard and sometimes she doubts herself, she knows Zion Project is helping the children.
“I’m blessed,” she said. “The Ugandans have given me so much more. I’ve changed my perspective about what we can accomplish with the opportunities we’re given. I’m no longer as materialistic. I don’t live for those things anymore. You realize maybe your life can change someone else’s for the better.”
Akallo said that different people have different responses towards such drastic issues depending on their understanding.
“Some hear, but don’t care,” she said. “Some hear, and get overwhelmed and process it very slowly. Some hear, and move.”
Describing herself as an idealist, Hartz said that she is impressed by the campus’ response to the events. She also is considering expanding the fundraising campaign by visiting other schools.
“I would hope for all 15,000 students to be at all the events, and I hope it doesn’t stop with this week,” she said.
As her son fell asleep in someone else’s arms, Akallo pointed out the greater need for Zion Project’s goals.
“It’s humanity we’re trying to save,” she said. “We need to look to the future and recognize that the problem is for the bigger picture in the world. We need to look at it and see this is not right for humanity, whether Christian or not. We need to strengthen them spiritually. We’re trying to love, and teach about that love. Zion Project is giving girls a future.”
