How students can help "Pushing The Elephant"

On Tuesday April 5th, 2011, NH Public Television brought to Plymouth State University an Independent Lens, one-hour sneak peak, of the documentary "Pushing the Elephant."

The movie explored the civil wars and current instability of the Democratic Republic of Congo through the lens of widowed mother, Rose Mapendo. Mapendo and 9 of her children were victims of the injustice caused by the civil wars, as they suffered in a concentration camp following the murder of Mapendo's husband, during which time, Mapendo's daughter Aimee was raped and forced to bear the child of one of her captors. 

The documentary focuses around themes regarding gender roles, peace and resolution, and living through forgiveness. "When you don't forgive others, you keep building a hell for yourself," said Mapendo in the documentary. 

Mapendo's family was relocated from a refugee camp with 9 of her children to Phoenix, Arizona, where she began to raise awareness through public testimony of the atrocities committed against her. Through her efforts a group called Mapendo International was created, to help relocate refugees. 

Dr. Krisan Evenson and PSU Student Body President Bryan Funk hosted the film and led a group discussion following the documentary, which further explored the themes in the documentary.

Students seemed to share the belief that the women in the Congo have no ability to change or have a say in anything about what is going on. Dr. Evenson did make the point however, "Of course we are watching this through Western eyes, and we have the idea that we should be offended that these women can't take part."

The discussion ended with five proactive ways students can make a difference and help the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding areas. 

Some of these solutions included working with various aspects of a group Funk works with called Invisible Children, which currently has two major focuses happening called 25 and TRI. 25 is a project that will host a day of silence on April 25th, 2011, in order to raise awareness and money, to bring an end to the injustices that have been committed by Joseph Kony's "Lord's Resistance Army" for the past 25 years in the Congo, Uganda, and surrounding areas. Students were encouraged by Funk to purchase an "action kit" for $25 from Invisible Children to raise money for the rehabilitation of child soldiers and for communication towers to be built to prevent attacks. 

Dr. Evenson also suggested those with language skills should think about volunteering or interning for the Lutheran NH Social Services which helps to relocate refugees in NH.

Daniel Moore, who organizes Community Cinema events, spoke about the motivation for prescreening the documentary at Plymouth. "We are connecting with the various institutions in the university system and they (PBS) wanted to offer this series as one in which they could share with the public." 

The preview will move next week to Brattleboro, Vermont. To find out more information about the documentary please visit www.pbs.org/pushing-the-elephant. To find out more about how to help the Congo through Invisible Children visit www.invisiblechildren.com.