Throughout the fall 2009 semester, Sheboygan-area participants in the UW-Sheboygan Upward Bound program will lead an "Invisible Children" book drive to collect used textbooks to be provided to these children who have been freed from their captors in Uganda. The books offer the opportunity to learn and restart their educations, and hopefully, discover a new way of life.

Textbooks will be collected on the UW-Sheboygan campus (Commons), South High School, North High School and Lakeland College until January. All books will be accepted, including any textbooks (all disciplines) and non-fiction books.

Upward Bound is a federally-funded TRIO program offered at both the UW-Sheboygan and UW-Manitowoc campuses. Locally, students who are first-generation college students from both North and South High School participate in the program throughout their high school years in order to become better prepared for college. The "Invisible Children" book drive will serve as one of the UW-Sheboygan group's service projects for the 2009-10 academic year.

The textbook drive will help to show Upward Bound students the impact they personally can make on the world around them, said Steve Roelse, UW-Sheboygan Upward Bound academic adviser.

"I envision their learning more about the importance and far-reaching impact that education can bring to world suffering," Roelse said. "I have traveled to Africa researching and invoking educational pursuits in recent years. I feel that I can share my experience and insights in regard to the reality of the benefits education can bring to alleviate suffering in developing nations."

South High School sophomore Pa Thao opted to spearhead the service project effort after being moved by a presentation at South High regarding the plight of the child soldiers of Uganda. Thao is a member of the presentation's sponsoring group's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

"I have a strong belief in the power of education as a tool for betterment," Thao said. "I hope to teach the local community through the students here about the plight that these former child soldiers are going through now and after their traumatic years of abduction and violence. The only way these children can break the cycle of violence and strife is by being educated. This book drive will help the educational process for these unfortunate children."

All books collected by January (after semesters at all local colleges and high schools are complete) will be shipped to Africa free of charge to the Ugandan schools participating in the program.

For more information on the Upward Bound program or the textbook drive, contact Roelse at (920) 459-6673 or e-mail steven.roelse@uwc.edu .