The Invisible Children story is one of human survival and the atrocities of war. In the last few years, it has also become a story of hope, inspiring students and young people all over the country to work for an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Northern Uganda.

Tonight, the UW chapter of Invisible Children will host a free screening of “The Rescue,” the most recent Invisible Children documentary.

The Invisible Children documentary process began in 2003, when three young American filmmakers left for Africa, unsure of what they would find. They made their way to Northern Uganda, where they discovered the night commuters — thousands of children who walk miles and miles every night to sleep in makeshift shelters and public places for fear of being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army and forced to become child soldiers.

This story led to the making of the first Invisible Children documentary, “Invisible Children: Rough Cut.” In less than an hour, the film shows the horrific effects of war in Northern Uganda. It documents the story of the abducted child soldiers who are trained to kill as soon as they can hold guns. The film also tells the story of the night commuters, the invisible children who leave their families every night in an attempt to seek refuge. Despite the atrocities these children face, the film depicts them laughing, dancing, singing, studying and praying. The result is a moving and inspiring work of art.

After an overwhelmingly positive response to the documentary, its creators founded the nonprofit organization Invisible Children, Inc.

“In the last few years, Invisible Children as an organization has gained a huge following of American high school and college-age youth who recognize this as a huge humanitarian crisis that can and needs to be solved,” said Aisling O’Neill Culhane, one of the founders of UW chapter of Invisible Children.

By hosting this screening, Invisible Children hopes to raise awareness on campus, which they believe is one of the keys to ending this crisis.

“This is not really covered in the news,” Meyer said. “Everybody feels bad for the African continent, but this is a pretty unique situation. It’s easy to understand and it’s so appalling.”

In addition to members of the student organization, the Invisible Children roadies will also be at the screening. Each semester, Invisible Children sends out roadies in vans all over the country to show the films and spread the message and story of the invisible children. The roadies are passionate young people who are highly educated about the situation in Uganda and about the organization itself. They will be able to answer questions and provide current information about the situation in Northern Uganda.

“We have a responsibility to use our voices because we can,” O’Neill Culhane said. “We are all humans and we should all have the same rights. Everyone should be granted the right to a childhood. It shouldn’t be something that isn’t a choice.”

“The Rescue” will be screened in Humanities in room 3650 at 7:30 p.m. tonight.