the globe gangBY MAGNUS BERGMAR & KARIN SÖDERGREN

SUDAN

khArtoUmThey are

brought here.

Here, children are abducted.

The sun has just risen when the Globe Gang lands in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital city.

Here in the north, most of the people are Arabs. In the south, most are Dinkas.

James has been imprisoned 33 times, and two of his colleagues werekilled when they tried to free children from forced labour. Thus far, his group has liberated 2,000 children.

The children are prisoners of the Arabs. I am a Dinka, the same as most of the abducted children. But Arabs help us too.

We dress like the people who have taken the children.

That way, we can move about without awakening suspicion.

The Globe Gang travels all over the world to collect children’s stories about violations of the rights of the child.

The Gang consists of Nomza from South Africa, Tove from Sweden, Raju from India, Hun from Vietnam, Amelia from Peru and Hema from Egypt.

The Gang will be getting a new assignment from the Head of the UN. You will travel to Sudan, meet Machiek and make his voice heard all over the world. But don’t take risks!

Sudan is Africa’s largest country. Civil war has been fought there for 20 years.

That must be James!

How tall he is!

Welcome! I’m James Aguer.

Wow! James is a true hero!

How do you dare continuing to free

children?

Even if it kills me, I must do it.

Who else would?

There are many children left to be freed, and now we have support from the Sudanese government.

How do you go about it?

We stop and talk with children that we think might have been abducted. What are you

doing here? Looking for my cows.

Where do you come from and what’s your name?

What did he want?

He spoke Dinka…

I’ve met five abducted children.

And I’ve met three! Let’s visit the

Sultan tomorrow.

I’m called Adut. I was abducted and

taken here.

Honoured Sultan! We’ve found children here who

have been abducted.

Sometimes we run into sultans who won’t help us.

We beg you to help us free the children!

Ahmed, follow James and make sure the children

are freed.

We’re going now to liberate a boy called Machiek

Shouldn’t we have long shirts and skullcaps?

Yes, let’s go buy some!

At a distance, you almost look like an

African! Don’t show your face

arounD here again!

The sun has just risen.

As usual, they pour a little sand into the porridge to show their power over Machiek.

When you’ve eaten, fetch fire from our neighbour!

eat! otherwise,

we’LL Beat you!

MAKE SURE that all the goats follow you home!

Is it far?

We’ll soon be there.

Machiek goes to fetch fire from the neighbour.

Hey, Manol! Wait for me! Hurry up, otherwise

I’ll get a beating! Who are they?

At the same time, a boy, who has been bound up every night for the last four years, awakens.

waKe uP, MachieK!

They’re people who save children like us!

what are we

waiting for?

James, look! Here they come running!

Get onto the truck! We have to save more

children today! Who are you!

We’re from different countries.

We’re here to listen to what

you have to say.

We must hurry before it gets dark.

We want to hear your story…and tell it to children

all over the world.

It began one day when I was seven. I was playing with

my friends…

Faster, Kuot! heLP, the MiLitia is coMing!

stoP, or i’ll shoot you! MuM!

Dad! no!

Machiek!

you! hurry uP!

They shove me into a box…

…and I see that they tie up my mum.

I’ll take the woman, the boy and…

I’ll take the other

boys! I’m glad

that mum’s with me.

You must clean up, fetch wood and cook!

And you must tend the cows and the goats!

Yes, Master.

Now don’t you dare try to

escape, I warn you!

After a few months, mum wakes me one night…

We must escape, Machiek!

Run, Machiek, run!

Your mother is dead. Don’t try to escape!

Every night I think of mum and dad, and I cry. Night after night, my body trembles.

The years go by. It’s impossible to escape by day.

I almost gave up hope until you and James turned up.

We’ll nominate James for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child!

Because the Globe Gang is a Global Friend, they get to nominate can-didates for the prize.

A g u e r

In schools all around the world, children read the prize magazine…

…and visit the prize website, www.childrensworld.org

All over the world, schools and children’s groups are taking part in the Global Vote to decide who will receive the Global Friends’ Award.

The results of the vote are reported via the ballot-box on the Internet, or via e-mail or fax. In 26 countries, 287 808 children have voted.

The Prize Ceremony is held at Grips-holm Castle in Mariefred, Sweden.

I request that Her Majesty

bestow…

…this year’s Global Friends’ Award on

JAMES AGUER!

For the prize money, James is able to free 100 children and get communication equipment.

The rights of the child are discussed, exhibits are put on display, and the Global Vote is organised.

This year’s three finalists for the World’s Children’s Prize for

the Rights of the Child have been chosen. They are the

liberator of abducted children, James Aguer…

Is your school also a Global Friend?

Yes! And now we’re learning about the three finalists and the children they fight for.

Who has the electoral register?

Who’ll write the press release?

yiPPie!