PROJECT AK-47

Today, I'd like to introduce all of you to an organization that I was immediately drawn to. While at a music festival called Revelation Generation in Frenchtown, NJ I noticed a table setup entitled: Project AK-47. Immediately the name caught my attention and interest, because I was pretty sure that was a name of a gun and it seemed pretty out of place at a Christian venue. So, naturally I got curious and wanted to know more about this mystery table setup, so I approached the table with an open mind. When I arrived I was seriously blown away by what I found. This organization fights against (as their flyer states)"one of the cruelest forms of modern-day slavery: the exploitation of children as soldiers. We rescue and defend these children where few (if any) organizations are involved: the war zones of Southeast Asia and Latin America." I never really realized what a vast global issue child soldiers were before! Their slogan " A kid or killer" really impacted me a lot, because what a terrible life that must be for those children that had no choice, but to accept this terrible life that was chosen for them. Many of these children are orphans that were stolen, raped, striped of their clothes, names, and all of their human dignity. They are given numbers instead of names, military training, and mostly likley AK-47's to use in combat. Project AK-47's mission sounds so simple, to rescue and rehabilitate child soldiers, but the reality is much more complicated. Their professional staff negotiatates and bargains for the release of child soldiers, which are then treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. After they are diplomatically rescued the children are immediately rehabilitated both physically and mentally. Then once they are ready they are reintergrated into their local communities. They don't remove them from their countries, because they believe that these children need to rise up to set an example for the next generation that there is hope and a real chance for lasting changes!

I STRONGLY urge all of you to muscle up the strength to not just visit their website, but to acutally make an effort to take actions to stand up against this kind of pure evil that lurks in all the dark corners of the world. These children don't deserve to be where they are and they don't deserve to be ignored, by people who can help them. Please do your part! Here's a link to their "Get Involved" page.
http://www.projectak47.com/getinvolved.aspx#divtab1
There's plenty of options. I personally bought a dogtag, so that I could use it to jump start conversations about the project. I also thought it would be a great physical reminder to remember to pray for these children. I definitely plan on becoming further involved in this organization by make more donations and perhaps having some type of fundraising event on their behalf. I hope that you become as enraged and empowered as I have become and that you will stand beside me and "fight" such worldly injustices that thwart every human's right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happniess!" Thanks for your time and God bless.


PS: I just wanted to mention what a blessing it was to see so many various social outreach efforts that were infecting all different types of people in need in varous parts of the world! People are out there making a difference whether you believe it or not! Don't just sit around dreaming. Be a part of the change that you want to see!!!