In the last five years, over 20,000 children have been abducted in the dead of night from their homes in Northern Uganda by a rebel group calling itself the Lord¡¯s Resistance Army. The conflict in Northern Uganda is Africa¡¯s longest-running war, exacting a terrible toll by targeting very precisely the children of the region. Three years ago, a group of young American women came together to found a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and to assist the children caught in the terrible conflict.

Inspired by the Museum of Tolerance¡¯s practice of giving visitors the name of an actual child affected by the Holocaust, campaign founders decided upon a ¡°nameplate necklace¡± that could be worn by supporters that bears the name of an individual child abducted in Northern Uganda.  The campaign¡¯s goals are to encourage Americans to see the children not as an overwhelming tragedy ¡© but as individuals. In wearing the name necklaces, supporters pledge to remember that individual child ¡© ¡°to speak their name, tell their story, bring them home.¡±

Since that time, the work of the Name Campaign has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, BBC World News, NPR, Daily Candy, and O Magazine.

Over $100,000 has been raised through donations and the sale of the necklaces, representing approximately 6,200 supporters. The money has been used for advocacy, education, and medical programs to benefit the children of Uganda.

During the course of advocating for peace in Northern Uganda, The Name Campaign has partnered with or co-sponsored events with Resolve Uganda, World Vision, Invisible Children, ENOUGH, GuluWalk, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran World Service, Africa Faith & Justice Network, Norwegian Refugee Council, Refugees International, MercyCorps, IMC, Friends for Peace in Africa, Global Action for Children, Committee to End Genocide in Uganda, and Today¡¯s Urban Renewal Network.
 

RACHEL CENTRE  - 1,000 children directly affected by the conflict in Northern Uganda received school fees and living expenses for one year. The funds were distributed through the world renown Rachele Rehabilitation Centre in Lira, Uganda, in the heart of the affected area.
Program Cost: $38,717.85
 

 

 MEDICAL RELIEF ¡© Children injured by the LRA have received life-changing medical care through The Name Campaign. Evaline Apoko, who was badly injured by a bomb while abducted, received facial reconstruction surgery in Indiana and returned home to Uganda last year. The Name Campaign continues to monitor her and helps to support her future. Program Cost: $16,211.90
 

OUTSTANDING YOUTH MEDIA FELLOWSHIP ¡© The Name Campaign awarded a fellowship to 15 year old Hilda Kasozi, a Ugandan orphan who after missing two years of school due to her inability to pay became one of the top high school students in her country. The Fellowship was to attend The One Global Tribe Summer Institute, sponsored by One Global Tribe and the Pearson Foundation, a weeklong intensive workshop on video activism pairing social entrepreneurs, media producers, and young change-makers with high school-age community leaders in Los Angeles. Their goal was to take action on global challenges by learning about video activism and producing a public service video to raise awareness about pressing issues. Program Cost: $2,993.80
 
 

 

 PEACE WITHIN REACH LOBBY DAY & SYMPOSIUM The Name Campaign co-sponsored this event twice, to bring young activists to Washington to advocate on behalf of the children of Northern Uganda.  Over 3,500 young people from all over North America participated. Evaline Apoko spoke before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staffers and visited US congress offices to tell her story. Program Costs: $6,592.85
 

 

 GRASSROOTS SUMMIT FOR NORTHERN UGANDA
The Name Campaign sponsored this ground-breaking work session of all the major grassroots North American-based organizations advocating for peace in Northern Uganda. Held over three days in Southern California, it generated crucial partnerships and fresh strategies for advocacy, lead by what became the umbrella advocacy organization known as RESOLVE UGANDA. Program Cost: $788.31
 
 

 

 THE NECKLACE: SPEAK THEIR NAMES, TELL THEIR STORY, BRING THEM HOME
The awareness generated by the nameplate necklaces is the core program of The Name Campaign. Over 6,000 necklaces have been distributed ¡© and are worn by people as diverse as school children in California and senior citizens in Mississippi. Each necklace bears the name of an individual child ¡© and each time someone wears a necklace, they have the opportunity to tell the story of the children of Northern Uganda. Additionally, through The Name Campaign website, we offer specific concrete actions that can be taken to help support peace in Northern Uganda. Our celebrity outreach has placed our premium necklace with such high-profile supporters as Steven Spielberg, Pink, Lupe Fiasco, and the Roots. The necklace ¡© and hence the issue ¡© has been featured in O Magazine, DailyCandy, high profile blogs, and numerous other media outlets. Our work has been covered by NPR, BBC, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Today Show. Program Cost: $28,456.10 (includes cost of premium and promotional tags. Note that this program generated the bulk of the funds for the other projects.)