WTAMU’s United Nations Student Alliance hosted the second annual Freedom Concert to raise money for the Invisible Children of Uganda.
Edward Akinyemi, the president of UNSA, said he felt the concert was a success because they raised $228.60 between the concert and a dorm storm.
“[A concert] is the only way to get people to come,” Akinyemi said. “We got local talent out from Canyon and it didn’t cost us anything.”
Oct. 15, the concert featured Jadiah Riley, president of Lady EX, singing a duet. She said that Invisible Children need our help.
“Invisible children are the children in Uganda,” Riley said. “We’re trying to help them. They need to eat more than we need to spend that dollar at McDonald’s.”
Uganda’s current civil war had created suffering within the country. Akinyemi said many people in the U.S. were unaware of the suffering in Uganda until a documentary brought the cause to the forefront a few years ago.
“No child deserves to be invisible,” Akinyemi said. “I’ll do anything in my power to make children visible and to give them recognition.”
Although the concert was sponsored by UNSA, other University groups come to the concert to provide entertainment and to help support the cause. The Men of E.X., Lady EX and the Jarrett Hall Gospel Singers all performed during the concert.
“I just went to go ask [these organizations],” Akinyemi said. “This is a good cause. Everyone was willing to help.”
Riley said the dorm storm – when students go through the dorms asking for donations – brought in $181.57.
“Some people gave $5 [or] $1,” Riley said. “Some people gave us three cents. Pennies add up.”
Riley said that UNSA come up with a goal to try and meet before they started raising money.
“We were hoping to raise as close to $200 as we can get,” Riley said. “Anything to help the kids.”
Akinyemi said donations are still being accepted. Anyone wanting to give money to help the Invisible Children can take the money to Akinyemi. At the end of the year, UNSA will send the money they’ve raised into the Invisible Children. Organization.
