I Got The Power Over My Gun, But Not Over Myself.
To be a child soldier it requires you to be under the age of 18 and the majority of them are between the age of 12-16.
WHY IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC CONGO (D.R.C) USING CHILD SOLDIERS? The army and rebels use child soldiers because the enemy doesn't have the courage to kill the children Regarding that fewer of them are lost in battle so the number of troops remain high. Another reason is that children are easier to persuade or kidnap. |
WHAT OTHER ISSUES GO ON WITH THE CHILDREN?
- Alcohol abuse
- Child abduction
- Sexual abuse
- Depression
- Forced displacement
- Forced marriage
- Rape
- Stress disorders
- Forced to smoke
In some army's children are made to kill a family, then to cut up their bodies and eat them to make the child feel reckless and numb.
Females are forced to cook, clean and be sex slaves for the commanders.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ON THESE CHILDREN?
"Children belong in schools and not battlefields.
Give them pencils, not weapons."
-Martin Kobler
It affects their education hugely.
For Example:
Not letting them learn times tables,
but letting them learn how to use a gun.
It mentally scars the children for life and makes them think,
My life is lost, I have nothing to live for.
Some children have the opposite effect and go crazy,
and the commanders give the children drugs to carm down.
Because the children are so young they become attached to the army,
thinking they are part of a family and not wanting to leave.
"Children belong in schools and not battlefields.
Give them pencils, not weapons."
-Martin Kobler
It affects their education hugely.
For Example:
Not letting them learn times tables,
but letting them learn how to use a gun.
It mentally scars the children for life and makes them think,
My life is lost, I have nothing to live for.
Some children have the opposite effect and go crazy,
and the commanders give the children drugs to carm down.
Because the children are so young they become attached to the army,
thinking they are part of a family and not wanting to leave.
WHO IS THE LEADER OF THE CONFLICT?
Joseph Kabili - Kabili became the first democratically elected president
of the DRC in 2006. He has been involved with the child soldiers because
he is one of the main military leaders in charge of the government troops.
HOW CAN YOU HELP THESE CHILDREN?
Donate money to campaigns such as OCHA and UNICEF.
These campaigns are trying to help child soldiers.