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Atlanta fundraiser held for children in Uganda
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On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008 the GuluWalk, a fundraising event where participants gathered to raise awareness about abandoned children in Uganda, took place at Freedom Park. The children that the participants were raising funds for ranged from kids abducted as child soldiers to ones who lost their parents due to the AIDS epidemic.
The GuluWalk is an annual event that started back in 2005 when two individuals, Adrian Bradbury and Keiran Hayward, went on a trip to northern Uganda and witnessed children who walked from their villages during the night to look for safe places to sleep without getting abducted by soldiers or becoming victims of human trafficking. Many of the children lost their homes because of civil war in Uganda, and were forced to live in huts in areas where clean water was rarely available and disease and violence were rampant. This situation has been referred to as the “world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis” by Jan Egeland, U.N. Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs.
The nature of the crisis in Uganda is one in which many human rights violations have taken place. As many as 25,000 children have been captured to be used as child soldiers and slaves. Civilians have suffered from military beatings, rape, and deaths as a result of severed limbs from machetes. Also, numerous families have had their homes burned and individuals suspected of attempting to report these atrocities had their hands and ears cut off by padlocks.
After coming back to the United States, Adrian and Keiran started the GuluWalk to inform Americans about what is going on in Uganda, and since then it has turned into an international campaign. Last year a million dollars was raised, and this year the goal was to exceed what was collected before.
Many organizations participated in the 2008 GuluWalk in Atlanta, such as World Vision and International Rescue Committee, an organization in Decatur that provides assistance to refugees. The proceeds of the event go toward helping children rehabilitate from their horrific experiences, which include efforts that provide opportunities to go to school, community meeting facilities for youth to socialize at, and counseling services. Participants of the GuluWalk walked from Freedom Parkway to Moreland Avenue throughout the event. After the walk was over, participants gathered back to Freedom Park for a picnic.
GuluWalk received widespread coverage through print publications, radio, and television. It was covered on Fox News and many other media outlets, with nations such as Canada and China joining the United States in promoting the cause. The message of the GuluWalk extends far beyond just the annual fundraising event. Merchandise is being sold throughout the year as part of a long-term advocacy effort by supporters of GuluWalk. The online GuluWalk Store has products such as documentaries, greeting cards, and clothes that raise awareness about the crisis in Uganda. Wristbands, beads, books and other items are also available for purchase. The organization responsible for this massive campaign is Athletes For Africa, a global network of individuals who are dedicated to empowering youth and informing the public about human rights violations around the world. Those interested in helping this cause should visit the GuluWalk website at www.guluwalk.com/atlanta/ or the Athletes For Africa website at www.athletesforafrica.com.
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