People to People and Light the Fire to “Cover the Night” and raise Global Youth Forum funds

The Douglas Student Chapter of People to People International (PTPI) and Light the Fire Foundation will be co-sponsoring activist, awareness, and fundraising events leading up to their “Cover the Night Kony 2012” event at 8 PM Friday, April 20 at the Douglas Church of God.

Organizers hope to raise funds to sponsor up to 20 Douglas students ages 13-18 to attend PTPI’s Global Youth Forum in Chicago November 7-11, 2012. At the same time, they hope to demonstrate solidarity with millions of activists meeting around the world at sunset on April 20 to call for the arrest of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Kony has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes including the abduction of children to become sex slaves and soldiers. The ICC has placed him as No. 1 on their arrest list. His actions have led both political parties to issue Congressional resolutions as well as both Bush and Obama administrations to authorize deployment of military advisors to assist in his capture.

Events start this Saturday at 9 AM with a benefit carwash, sign-waving and circulation of “Cover the Night” fliers. All proceeds will go to sponsor attendance at the Global Youth Forum where Douglas teenagers will learn more of PTPI’s humanitarian mission and activities, which include campaigns like “Cover the Night”. In his appearance last Wednesday night on Voice of Douglas, PTPI Student Ambassador and Founder of the Douglas student chapter, Erich Hernandez stated that the goals for the 20th were threefold: “to bring the citizens of Douglas together, to raise awareness of Joseph Kony and the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), and to bring night life to the citizens of Douglas.”

Hernandez says he is looking forward to discussing the event and upcoming chapter activities with carwash customers. Chapter Co-Founder Laura Blair will be supervising collection of signatures and artwork on two poster murals. One will be mailed to Uganda's Ambassador to the United States, Perezi Kamunanwire, while the other will be mailed to Rear Admiral Brian Losey, Commander, Special Operations Command Africa.

The carwash will go to 1 PM. After a short break, the volunteers will spread out by ward and go door-to-door passing out fliers for residents to hang up on their front doors and windows. The volunteers will request sponsorship for the Global Youth Forum, promote “Cover the Night”, and raise awareness for the Douglas Chapter of PTPI. PTPI Advisor and Light the Fire Co-Founder, Danny dj Morales hopes to see fliers on cars, doors, and windows.

“It would send such a strong message of support to the People of Uganda, our troops, and our youth to have Douglas residents and business owners sign the murals and voluntarily post the fliers,” Morales said.

As testimony of the interest, Hernandez reports that at last count, 392 people, many of whom are youth, had indicated they were coming to “Cover the Night.”

The weeklong campaign will culminate with “Cover the Night” at 8 PM Friday, April 20th at the Douglas Church of God at 458 East 5th Street. This free event is open to the public and will feature a screening of Invisible Children: Rough Cut the documentary film that brought home the plight of the Ugandan people and catalyzed “Cover the Night” events around the world on the 20th. “Cover the Night” will feature performances by local youth bands and artists as well as the motivational speaking of special guests. During the event, organizers will make the two murals available for additional signatures and be on hand to take any contributions for the Global Youth Forum. The event will close with a candlelight vigil with prayers offered for the people of Uganda, American troops deployed in the region and for expanded opportunities for Douglas youth. Those unable to attend can watch “Cover the Night” online live on the Voice of Douglas (www.livestream.com/voiceofdouglas) starting at 8 PM MST.

To find out more about the Douglas Student Chapter of People to People International and event information, visit the group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/douglas.student.chapter.of.ptpi.