Child Soldiers in Africa

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Africa has been described as “the world’s most silent crisis.” They’ve been labeled this because African’s have struggled with child soldiers for many years. Child soldiers are used all throughout Africa. That includes Mozambique, Somalia, Congo and Uganda. The Central African Region (CAR) is the most known vicinity that employs child soldiers due to the viral video released in 2012, by an organization called “The Invisible Children”. The focus of this video was on the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony. The video helped spread awareness about child soldiers but there are many other places that use child soldiers that are not talked about. This has been an issue for nearly 20 years. There’re places in the world where children are being abducted and coerced into becoming fighters at very young ages. Young adults should not just understand how this is happening, but why and how to help. Children should not have to worry about whether they are going to be abducted at night and have to kill their friends and family the next day. Children becoming soldiers in Africa has been an issue for far too long and needs to be stopped. Although it may seems that the African’s invented child soldiers, they did not. When the Nazi’s got desperate during World War II they drafted adolescents. This was the inspiration for many other countries to do the same. In the early 1980’s, a new warfare was discovered in Mozambique that would travel across Africa and soon the rest of the world. Child soldiers were commanded by rebels to cut through villages, one by one. Rebel commanders learned that children were easily manipulated, intensely loyal, tremendously vulnerable, fearless and most importantly, there was an endless supply. Manipulatin... ... middle of paper ... ...reeing potential and current child soldiers. (Karwowski) Using children as pawns for fighting and conflict has been a problem for too long and is inexcusable. Students not only at Mamaroneck, but also all over the country should care about this issue because we should be extremely appreciative of the things we have and especially grateful for our education and opportunities. Children in Africa have no hope and most don’t care if they ever grow up. They’re raised on the frontline and stay there for most of their lives. We are lucky enough to have a great education that sets us up for many chances in our futures. Most importantly, students should think about this topic because it cannot carry on the way it has been. A change needs to occur; kids in Africa need to have a future again. Child soldiers cannot remain “the world’s most silent crisis.” It’s time to speak up.

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