Oh Africa, your beautiful children who we don't hear cry!

I have finished watching a documentary called "Invisible Children". I find myself once again in that place where I know I live luxuriously in a country and on a continent that shields me from such violence, heartbreak and knowledge.
I have had the opportunity early in my academic career to be exposed to Apartheid history and literature. I swiftly became entranced by what I was learning and disenchanted with my own country. I often have mixed feelings about being North American, about being Canadian. The definitions that are widely accepted, adopted and celebrated don't seem to fit with me, or I should say they don't sit easily with me. Especially when I am confronted daily with domestic scenes of violence, discrimination and exclusion. In addition, I am now exposed to another body of violence, discrimination and exclusion in another country, and my country's leaders know about this, my country's media knows about this and yet the civilians are largely oblivious! I also know that my government has in several different ways condoned and participated in South Africa's Apartheid, and I can from there make the leap to believing that the whole of Africa has in some way been victimized by my country, even if it is with our silence.
I recently checked out job postings and volunteer efforts for Africa. I don't know if I have a strong enough character to go, but I feel I want to. What do I do though when I am there? I truly hope that eventually in my life I will see Africa, and I hope that however I arrive there I will make use of my time and my body to be of some kind of assistance.
For now, I continue to live in Canada, enjoy the freedom of learning, living and expression.
If anyone is interested here is the link to the documentary I just watched http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3166797753930210643&q=invisible+children&total=998&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
The show is just under an hour long, it is inspiring and heartbreaking.
I also know there is a place to legitimately donate and also by passing along the message and the documentary we all are in some way bringing attention to a very quiet atrocity!