WHAT’S A FUN way to raise $1,000 for a worthy cause? A lock-in! And nobody’s better at putting them together than Uni High’s own United for Uganda.

UFU is a student organization dedicated to helping and raising awareness about the “invisible children” of northern Uganda.

The lock-in raised a total of $1,055, all of which went to Come Let’s Dance, a grassroots organization that rehabilitates former child soldiers from Uganda’s 20-yearlong civil war.

UFU held the lock-in from 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, to 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10. The night started with a Marika Iyer-DJed dance, which sophomores could attend. However, only juniors and seniors were allowed to stay past 11:30 for the actual lock-in. Students entertained themselves with video games, dodgeball, and various other games, activities, and arts and crafts.

When they got hungry, students could treat themselves to a feast of goodies thanks to donations from such dining establishments as Seaboat, Red Lobster, Strawberry Fields, Za’s, Zelma’s, Noodles, El Toro, Baker's Square, Radio Maria, Gumby’s, Potbelly’s, and Pekara.

Around midnight, University of Illinois student and musician Patrick Mustain performed in the first-floor hallway. He and fellow members of the U of I student organization Invisible Conflicts spoke about their experiences helping child soldiers in Uganda.

In 2006-07, UFU organized two lock-ins: one in November for juniors and seniors, and the other in January for underclassmen. The events raised nearly $4,000 toward helping former child soldiers in the East African country.

February's lock-in came one day after UFU presented an all-school assembly about Come Let’s Dance, featuring guest speaker Deb Adams.

Now, in March, the group is in the midst of “UFU Month,” which kicked off Friday night with a benefit concert at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, starring local hip-hop artists Krukid, Cornbread, and Text.

Also during March, UFU will sponsor two movie nights. The first will feature the documentaries “Uganda Rising” and “Diamonds in the Rough: A Ugandan Hip Hop Revolution.”

The other will feature “The Constant Gardener,” a 2005 movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz about a corrupt pharmaceutical corporation doing business in Kenya.

Both movie nights will be free and will take place at Uni. Dates and times will be announced.

UFU will also sponsor a personal sacrifice campaign throughout the month. Anyone is welcome to participate by giving up something they like — such as a daily cup of coffee — and donating the money they would have spent on that. A prize will be given to the person who raises the most money through their sacrifice.

In the meantime, check out this slideshow and see what it was like back in February when juniors and seniors spent the night at Uni.