In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers from Southern California traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when the three discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.

After returning to the States, they created the documentary “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers involved in the longest running war in Africa. The documentary’s impact led to the creation of the Invisible Children non-profit organization, which works to provide relief for northern Uganda.

Representatives from Invisible Children visited the Marshall Center on Tuesday to host a screening of the film, in what ended up as one of the largest turnouts ever for a social movement event on campus.

The organization gave students a chance to make a difference by donating to the Invisible Children fund.

Michael Leblanc, president of Current at USF, worked with University Lecture Series to bring the touring event to the USF campus.

“We were the first one’s to contact Inivisible Children from USF. It is such a great organization,” Leblanc said. “Not only do they do a great job bringing awareness and help to Northern Uganda, but they were also one of the first new social movements that got this generation to look beyond themselves. We wanted them to come and make a huge impact on students.”

Invisible Children has been featured on Larry King Live, in People magazine, on ABC, and many other media outlets. The organizers considers themselves a group of storytellers, visionaries, humanitarians, artists and entrepreneurs who are “individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it.”

Although the organization has already left the Tampa Bay area, they want locals to know that it is never too late to donate. There is a running donation page that anyone can go to and give to the cause at any time.