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Halifax one of 100 cities to host a Gulu Walk

Halifax Gulu Walk coalition is focusing on raising awareness of issues that affect children in northern Uganda

The weight of accountability was tangible t at the October 23rd screening of the documentary Wardance, a film that left the audience in silence only to be broken by mumbles of "I can't believe those are the stories of real children."

The film shown at the Rebecca Cohn Art Gallery in Halifax attracted more that 100 students and community members with many having to be turned away once the gallery reached capacity.

The two-hour documentary directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine, captured the stories of three children forced to live in refugee camps in northern Uganda in fear of abduction by rebels. The film followed the children of the camp's Patungo Primary School as they rehearsed for and competed in the National Music Competition in Kapala, Uganada. Amidst stories of brutal beatings, forced killings and murdered parents the children found hope and strength through music and dance.

"Music is in our tradition, not even war can take it from us." (an exerpt from the film)

In 2005 Adrian Bradbury and Kieran Hayward heard stories of these children in northern Uganda who would commute each evening from their rural tribes into cities to sleep on the streets. These children were walking nearly 20 kilometres each day from fear of abduction by the Lord's Resistance Army, or rebels. Bradbury and Hayward started the Gulu initiative to raise awareness of this humanitarian crisis.

This year the Halifax Gulu Walk coalition has been able to organize the War Dance film screening as well as a fundraising comedy evening at Yuk Yuks to encourage community participation and education about the issue.

"This year we have really been able to get the community attention and have an amazing turn out to all of our events," said Tory Schultz, a Gulu volunteer.

Caity Sackeroff, the coordinator for the Halifax Gulu coalition, says this year the team has focused not only on fundraising but on spreading understanding of the issues that exist. The team has spent the last month visiting high schools as far as Lunenburg to speak to classes about the experiences of these children who are victims of war.

"This year has been about a focus on helping people to understand the issue. Knowledge is sustainable. If development has taught us anything it is that you can't just throw money at an issue," said Sackeroff.

This Saturday, Halifax will be one of nearly a hundred cities that will host a Gulu Walk. If you would like to participate, the walk will begin at 11:30 am at Grande Parade and end at Victoria Park around 1:30 pm.