Child Soldiers

It is a fact. In more than 25 countries in the world children as young as 7 are being actively recruited or forced into Militias and Revolutionary Armies. As young as 7. Children barely old or tall enough to hold a weapon are being coerced, or in some cases forced, to not only hold a weapon, but to aim it at men, women and other children and pull the trigger.

Children as young as 7 are being torn from the arms of screaming, begging parents and watch as the parents are then killed. They are herded onto trucks, terrified and alone, and taken to training facilities. They are stripped of every shred of humanity, fear and the loyalty they once held for their families and loved ones. They are, in some cases, given access to alcohol, drugs and various forms of entertainment. In places that do not condone the use of such substances, they are simply brainwashed. Force fed a new love, a new loyalty to death and mayhem.

Sometimes this can take as little as a week. Children exposed to war and conflict from birth are now on the other side of a weapon. They hold the power of life and death in their hands. What they once feared and cowered from is now their source of strength. Those who lack the ability to reason, to consider the consequences of their actions, are given the resources to take life at random.

Girls, who were once used as little more than domestic and sex slaves in Militia and Revolutionary Army camps, are now also being recruited to fight. One can barely imagine the shock of recoil as children fire automatic weapons and RPG's. Girls are routinely raped and beaten, de humanised and degraded as they suffer the demands and physical needs of the boys and men of the camps. Often they are left to raise the babies born of this abuse with no support.

Rarely do they understand their mission, what they fight for, what they kill and die for. They show little fear and understanding, they simply fight.

Finally, the world is taking a stand. Humanitarian Agencies are forcing the governments of free and democratic countries to act. Organisations such as Africa Recovery are attempting to free the Child Soldiers and restore their childhood, their opportunity for a free and fullfilling life. They are attempting to reintegrate, re educate and re establish links to family and community for these Children.


More than 500,000 children worldwide have been recruited, either voluntarily or forcefully, for Militias and Revolutionay Armies. The scope of this issue is immense. Half a million children need saving, need de programming, need love, security and opportunity. If you are asking yourself what you can do, that this issue is to big, or to far away for you to make a difference, think again.

In our every day lives we use products that fund these Militias and revoultionary Armies. Diamonds, rubber, oil, ivory are amongst the leading products that contribute to the needs and ongoing means of support for these groups. Start to question what you are buying, where it is coming from and whether these products are contributing to conflict, war and ultimately the death of both innocents and innocence.

Support those who can make a difference. Our Militaries, our Governments and Humanitarian Organisations can make a difference here. Take the time to research how you can personally make a difference. Support those who support the missions to free these children and stabilise their countries.

Ultimately, as we stabilise these countries, these Militias and Revolutionary Armies will be disbanded. They will be hunted as the illegal Armies they are, the children removed from their grip and the adults punished. We must believe in our Forces abilities to stabilise these regions, in the Support Organisations abilities to rehabilitate and in our Governments abilities to ensure ongoing support.

These children need us.....

A_C