Child Soldiers

          By: Samantha and Jo 

    Thousands of children in more than 40 countries across the globe are being forced or tricked into becoming soldiers. 

         

• A child goes missing or is abducted• Broadcasting descriptions• Flash pictures• Post information regarding the abduction• Police move out in force with helicopters and planes• Bring a child home to its family• Go after the abductor to put him behind bars,

The Problem: US

The Problem: AFRICA• Northern districts of Uganda, 300,000 children abducted in 20 years:

nobody does a thing.• Almost every family has been affected. • Many families lost a child through abduction, or their village was

attacked and destroyed by an army of abducted children known as The Lord’s Resistance Army.

• Countryside virtually empty• People move to "safe villages" protected by the government• Said not done. • At night the children of the north flee into towns to sleep, fearing that

they might be abducted. 

The Main Info• Children around 10 years old are taught to kill• Child is commanded to kill others in order to stay alive • The number of children under the age of 18 who have

been coerced or induced to become child soldiers is thought to be in the range of 300,000 

Joseph Kony

• Claims to make Uganda better place based on the Ten Commandments, but he has broken every one of them. 

• Control of children and the doing of a crazy man. • Known nothing else but death and destruction. 

The Time/place

• 18 years, no resolve in sight. • Recruits soldiers from villages and schools of Uganda

through abductions.• Children have been robbed of life itself• Ruthless killers who no longer feel

A Story in Pictures

 Drawings by former child soldiers as young as 5 years old http://www.amnestyusa.org/child_soldiers/gallery.html - A story in pictures.

1.This is what the LRA has been doing to our children for over 18 years now, and it's time for it to stop. Kids as young as 5 years old, are drawing these images after being a child soldier. No hearts, no pictures for mommy. just cold- blooded murder scenes.

Quotes

FORMER GIRL SOLDIER in hiding in Colombia -

“They told me I had to cut a man's throat. I was frightened. But I had to do it to survive."

Quotes

FORMER CHILD SOLDIER - "I killed innocent people in terrorist attacks with bombs. I haven't given it much thought. I know there was one town where I planted dynamite - I used about 25kg of explosives. I am really not sure."

Quotes

"I've seen people get their hands cut off, a ten-year old girl get assaulted and then died, and so many men and women burned and buried alive… so many times I just cried inside my heart because I didn't dare cry out loud," said a 14 year-old girl, abducted in January 2000 by the Revolutionary United Front, an armed group in Sierra Leone. 

Quotes

CHILD SOLDIER, Myanmar - "I feel sorry. Why do I feel sorry? Because by the time I could go to school, I am already too old for the beginner's class. I can't dream of going to school any more because it is too late. I will stay in the army until I die. I lost all my dreams, all my hopes for the future, I feel like a dead person."

Quotes

LRA ESCAPEE - "The LRA were looting the village. I tried to run away but it was too late. They forced me to carry two 50kg bags of sugar. I couldn't carry them on my own, so they captured 2 more kids to help."

Video Link

http://www2.invisiblechildren.com/videos/3765611 -Who We Are video

How We Can Help:1.Donate. Go to www. invisiblechildren.com, to donate

your money, and help the invisible children of Uganda, become visible. 

2.Support. Invisible Children co. has recently started their bracelet campaign. They have started selling bracelets handmade by the Ugandan people, that will benefit the people of Africa. By purchasing one of these bracelets you will help support the Invisible Children, and child soldiers of Uganda

3.Spread the word. By spreading the word about child soldiers, we will help educate ourselves and others about the problem in not only Africa, but also the rest of the world.

Bibliography

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/stories/s596672.htm

http://www.amnestyusa.org/child_soldiers/gallery.html  http://www2.invisiblechildren.com/videos/3765611 http://kabiza.com/Lira-Children-Kony-Rebels.htm