Two Saddleback students step up to make a difference
Invisible Children “roadies” Kyle Ramstack, Hannah Fordham, Katie Mackenzie, and Uganda native Acii Nancy with Abby Freeman and Vanessa Klink (Cassie Rossel)
While most community college students prefer to stand on the sidelines rather than take charge at their campuses, two women have decided to opt for an alternative.
Saddleback College students Abby Freeman, 21, international relations, and Vanessa Klink,19, psychology, hosted the Invisible Children screening of “Tony” last Tuesday in the Saddleback student lounge.
Not only did the pair host the screening on their own, but they managed to pull off the entire event after only knowing each other for a few short weeks.
Klink and Freeman have been working together for the last month to set up for the screening of Invisible Children’s latest documentary, but they did not know each other until they actually got together to plan the event.
Both Klink and Freeman had contacted Invisible Children with an interest in hosting a screening of “Tony” at Saddleback. Once hearing their requests, the organization put the two students in contact with one another, and the pair has been working together on the event ever since.
Their shared passion for Invisible Children and social activism is what brought these two friends together to help spread the word about global issues and what can be done to help those in need.
“It is so important for us as college students to be involved with social activism and do what we can to be aware [of issues] and put action into what we need to change,” Klink said.
Freeman and Klink first heard about Invisible Children while still in high school, and have been devout supporters and activists for the organization ever since.
After viewing the first documentary produced by Invisible Children, they both decided to use their lives to make a difference and ultimately help those in need.
Klink and Freeman are among a certain brave and admirable few who actually step up and decide to do something that will make a change.
An obstacle that may come in the way of many college students’ involvement with social activism is a busy schedule at school or work. Both Klink and Freeman are full time students and still find time to devote many hours to the organization.
They both said that it’s tough to be full time students and have such an active involvement with Invisible Children, but that the key to managing both school and activism is to not make excuses for yourself and do something to make a change, because “every little thing counts.”
“It’s so easy to get involved, just pick up the phone to call your senator, write a letter, pass out fliers, do whatever you can to spread the word about your cause,” Freeman said.
Even passing out fliers seems impossible to fit into a student’s schedule, the easiest way to get involved is to find an organization worth donating to, said Klink.
Through donations, charities such as Invisible Children have been able to provide aid and relief to people effected by third world corruption.
Although much good has been done through organizations such as Invisible Children, there is still much work that needs to be done in order to bring peace to countries affected by war and poverty, according to Klink.
As Freeman and Klink said, it is up to those who are not in need to bring justice to those who are suffering.
Freeman and Klink have taken their passion beyond Invisible Children and are in the process of starting a global activism club at Saddleback. They are currently in need of an adviser.
For more information on how to get involved with Invisible Children or the global activism club, contact Abby Freeman at [email protected].