The use of child soldiers was something I was largely unaware of until reading "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah. This book follows the autobiographical journey of Ishmael, who is forced to leave his home and family at twelve years old, and who eventually becomes a child soldier in the government army. This is a challenging read, because the story is heartbreaking, but also true.
A child soldier is anyone under the age of 18 who is recruited to fight in an army, whether government run or not. Child soldiers can be both boys and girls, and they have been used as "fighters, porters, couriers, spies, guards, suicide bombers or human shields, or to perform domestic duties", according to Child Soldiers International. And child soldiers are in more countries than you'd think - in Thailand, the Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, India, Colombia, and more.
"A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" paints a grim picture. Young child soldiers are often forced to kill, or be killed. In some instances, they may barely weigh enough to carry a gun. Once these children are freed from the army, returning to "regular" life may be nearly impossible. Many will have lost family members in village raids, and may have no one to return to. Nearly all will be saddled with the heavy weight of PTSD.
I've written about Falling Whistles before, but one of their videos (posted below), has always hit home for me:
A child soldier is anyone under the age of 18 who is recruited to fight in an army, whether government run or not. Child soldiers can be both boys and girls, and they have been used as "fighters, porters, couriers, spies, guards, suicide bombers or human shields, or to perform domestic duties", according to Child Soldiers International. And child soldiers are in more countries than you'd think - in Thailand, the Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, India, Colombia, and more.
"A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" paints a grim picture. Young child soldiers are often forced to kill, or be killed. In some instances, they may barely weigh enough to carry a gun. Once these children are freed from the army, returning to "regular" life may be nearly impossible. Many will have lost family members in village raids, and may have no one to return to. Nearly all will be saddled with the heavy weight of PTSD.
I've written about Falling Whistles before, but one of their videos (posted below), has always hit home for me:
Falling Whistles sells whistles of different materials to raise money for their cause. I bought one for an earlier challenge. Yet, even beyond donating, I think a large part of the problem is this:
Many people simply do not know that child soldiers exist.
And ultimately, there are always going to be child soldiers unless there is peace.
Check out some of the organizations below to learn more, donate, or find other courses of action.
Check out some of the organizations below to learn more, donate, or find other courses of action.
Book Recommendation
I've already mentioned it, but it's definitely worth a read. "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" is a powerful book, and certainly helps in better understanding the plight of a child soldier.