Kony 2012 Scandal at its Best

As requested, I made this video for you all.

If you haven't watched the viral video for this month, please watch it before you read on.

I say this whole campaign is a scandal for many reasons, mainly because it fails at informing more accurate information about Uganda and the techniques this video has raised awareness to so many people. Not to mention Invisible Children, the organization facilitating the Kony 2012 campaign, does not function as a true nonprofit should. I will talk about how a true nonprofit should operate and how misleading this whole campaign is hence scandal.

As a true nonprofit professional, the first thing that striked me was this article below:

"Some critics have pointed out that, according to Invisible Children Inc.'s 2010 tax records, the group spent just 32% of its funds on direct services in Africa. More money was spent in the U.S., over $3.8 million, on advocacy including "a biannual film tour, cross-platform media campaigns and grassroots awareness events." Another $1.7 million went to employee salaries and benefits." -Krdo.com

A nonprofit should function its budget and funds as 20% Staff/Administration and 80% Direct Services. Not to mention another source and the official website states that the organization has not been audited yet. So we do not know the real transaction and disbursement of the money. Therefore, we are basing all we know on what the organization only informs us.

Now, as for this campaign being misleading, the video only portrays Uganda as being in a "hell-hole," which it's not. In fact, the country is stable right now. It is true that at one point the United States did indeed send over a 100 troops between 2008-11, but only to advise the Uganda military because of the lack technology advancement, etc. The U.S intended to help capture Joseph Kony however no reports have shown they found and captured Kony. According to rumors of Uganda-Americans, some have stated that the whole Kony event happened a long time ago (1980's), and since then they have not believed this video to be true. In fact, they think the video is a joke.

Now to clarify some other arguments about this video, Invisible Children has not made profit from youtube from this video because the video of course shows no advertisements or other marketable placement(way individuals/organization make money from videos).

Though I like the idea of raising awareness about a cause, but is it worth it when the story is not completely true. The world as we know it will always be unknown and misunderstood.