Displace Me

Erin Stern, 9, throws a ball of tape up in the air for her sister, Leah (not pictured), 7, to catch Saturday night in Washington, D.C. The Invisible Children hosted an event called Displace Me, to raise awareness on the displacement camps in Northern Uganda. Thousands of people built homes out of cardboard to simulate being displaced.
So, I went to this event for fun. I saw this girl and her little sister playing and thought to myself this would be something that I'd shoot if I were covering it. But, I kept watching them and in my head saw all the photos I could make and just couldn't help it. I had to shoot it.

Four of us slept in this cardboard house Saturday night that we made. It barely made it through the night. It was a cold night, too.

It was awesome seeing the Washington Monument all lit up. I don't think I've ever been there at night before.

People watch video testimonials from Northern Ugandans on the mall in DC.

This was in the morning just as we were leaving. The event was supposed to last til 10 am, but we were woken up at 5 by our noisy neighbors. So, the four of us were tired, hungry and cold. We weren't allowed to eat anything while we were there except for a ration of saltines and water. So, after we escaped from the displacement camp we were on a mission to find breakfast. No, Displace Me did not make me know what it would feel like to be in a real displacement camp in Northern Uganda, since after we left we hit up a Starbucks. But, I do feel like I know a little more about the issue. I did kinda get a feel for what it would be like to be homeless, though. It was the end of April and I was freezing all night. I can only imagine what it would be like to sleep outside in the dead of winter.