A volunteer from Invisible Children called me yesterday as a follow-up to see if I enjoyed the Displace Me event back in April. I gave her my honest opinion, as they are planning next year's event and want to improve. I basically said that I had really high hopes for the event, which were then dashed for several reasons. She asked me to elaborate, so I did. I ended up telling her the following:

1. Publish a schedule of events ahead of time. This year they kept the schedule under wraps and kept saying how we'd be in awe if we were "surprised." I saw no point to the secrecy of the schedule once I got there. I was expecting U2 or something to show up. I got there at 3 PM as directed and found out that 3 PM - 7 PM was when people were supposed to be "setting up." This meant I spent about 20 minutes putting up my cardboard hut, ten minutes laying down with my head next to my "window" dying of heat stroke, and ten minutes wandering around looking at other people's campsites. Had I known the thing didn't kick off until seven, I would have gotten there at 6:45.

2. The water/food collection and subsequent distribution was pointless and poorly planned. Not only was I miserable, but then I had to find a boy to bring me water. Boys had to have girls bring them crackers. It was basically mayhem and unless you went in a big group (which most people did except for MeanRachel), it was impossible to get any food or water.

3. The entire event was allowed to be too cliquey. When I told the girl this and she goes "Thank you for your honesty." I think she was surprised by my suggestions. I told her that I expected more individuals there and when I realized that everyone was camping in huge groups, I felt like an outsider. I told her that in an actual displacement camp, I doubt anyone one is rolling up with their buddies from school or church and living next to each other. I'm sure people are scattered about and forced to assimilate with their new neighbors. I told her they should do more team building exercises as a group, because one of my favorite parts was when the entire group of people were doing the filming for the video. I told her they should brainstorm on some more ways for the entire group to work as one.

"Peace is not just the absence of armed conflict. It is a world in which basic needs of the majority of the planet are met." - Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Winner