This fall, media-based nonprofit Invisible Children connected Nimitz Junior High School students to the overwhelming crisis in Africa in a totally new way - with a documentary told from the perspective of high school students.

GO, the first of its kind, is the story of a group of students that traveled into the heart of Africa's longest-running war. At the end of the 35-minute film, Nimitz students were compelled to become a part of the story's end by getting involved with Invisible Children's Schools for Schools program.

The international organization created the revolutionary fundraising program in 2006 in response to the need for quality schools in northern Uganda - schools that have been destroyed by displacement, rebel occupation and lack of funding due to the 22-year war. Schools for Schools uses an innovative online social community to help students see where their money is going and connect to different projects, fundraising ideas, and supporters. Within its first year, students rallied together and raised over $3 million. With a brand new facebook application, Invisible Children anticipates an exponential growth that will complete the ambitious projects at their eleven partner schools in northern Uganda.

"What's incredible about this program is that it relies on the most unlikely donors - high school and college students - to raise the money, allowing them to believe that they have what it takes," said Laren Poole, Invisible Children co-founder and GO director. "At the end of the fundraising competition, the top students have the chance to visit their school in Uganda to meet students their own age. It's a story come full circle."

That unique experience between students is the central focus of the new documentary, where students understand the war firsthand as they befriend students living and surviving among one of the worst humanitarian crises. Inspired by these strong friendships, Invisible Children will be awarding more students than ever before for the chance to go to Uganda in the fall semester. In addition to schools that raise the most money, Invisible Children will be awarding three tickets each to schools with the most creative ideas and most books donated.

The president of the club, Hannah Bushart, with the help of the club officers and their sponsor, Carra Schneider, had a classroom competition as a school fundraiser where students who raised the most money were rewarded. The class who raised the most money was able to have free dress day, the second most raising class was able to wear jeans for a day, and the third most raising class was able to untuck their shirts for the day.

Nimitz raised $3,526.59 from that fundraiser alone, which will then go to rebuilding Pabbo Secondary School in northern Uganda.

"We're spreading the word like we always do - with a grassroots tour of more than 1,000 screenings in America and Canada," said Margie Dillenburg, Invisible Children Movement director. "Our roadies are packed with resources that will enable students to win one of 22 all-expenses-paid trips next summer. No matter what, it's going to be an exciting semester."

The Schools for Schools fundraising competition started on Sept. 8 and ended Dec. 18.

For the last 100 days Nimitz Junior High School helped bring in the most money, most books, or most creative idea, Invisible Children is giving thousands of students around the world the chance to GO.

Established in 2005, Invisible Children is a social, political, and global movement using the transformative power of a story to change lives. By inspiring youth culture to value creativity, idealism, and sacrifice, the movement fuels the most effective, adaptable, and innovative programs in the world. Invisible Children Inc. was formed after the release of the film "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," which documents a war in northern Uganda in which children are abducted by a rebel army and forced to fight as child soldiers.

Currently, Invisible Children is putting 740 kids through school and employs more than 250 men and women living in this war-torn region, with plans to see that number grow. These programs on the ground were developed by the people of northern Uganda and seek to improve the quality of life for individuals through quality education, enhanced learning environments and innovative economic opportunities.
For more information, visit www.invisiblechildren.com.