Helping child soldiers
Becoming involved in conflict as a child soldier robs children of their childhood. They do not get the chance to go to school, or play, or be with their families - all the normal, everyday things that help children learn and grow. Many child soldiers have witnessed or taken part in acts of unbelievable violence, even against their own families or communities. They are often forced to do violent things to other people, so that they become hardened to violence. This is called becoming "desensitised". They may be beaten, drugged, and put through violent initiation rites, before they are forced to kill other people. Often children are too afraid to escape for fear of what might be done to them if they are re-caught, and because they are scared their own family and community will no longer accept them after what they have done.
Demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) programmes specifically aimed at child soldiers have been established in many countries, both during and after armed conflict. They have assisted former child soldiers in acquiring new skills and returning to their communities. Because many child soldiers have missed out on school they may be unable to read or write, so they do not have the basic skills to gain a job. These programmes also try to help children deal with the physical and psychological damage caused by the horrific acts they have seen and been involved in.
Case study - Rabbit rearing in Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo was involved in civil war from 1998 until 2003. An estimated 10-20,000 boys under the age of 18 were involved in the fighting.
The UK charity Save the Children has worked with the Congolese government and rebel groups to demobilise and rehabilitate child soldiers. When children leave armed groups, they can find themselves in a very difficult situation. They are often traumatised by their experiences, and find it difficult to adjust to civilian life. They may be unable to return to their families, and find it impossible to cope with what they have seen and done.
Save the Children worked with a Congolese partner, Paysannat, to run a rabbit-rearing project. Paysannat lends former child soldiers rabbits, which they can breed and sell. This work breeding rabbits helps them to settle back into some kind of normality. The project also enables them to support themselves and their families, put their experiences in the army behind them, and gain acceptance by their communities.