The Young and Hopeful
“ An estimated 300,000 children are actively participating in 36 ongoing (or recently ended) conflicts in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and the former Soviet Union” In African countries like Sierra Leone and Somalia, 80 percent of all rebel soldiers are made up of children between the ages of 7 to 14. Like many countries in Africa, Sierra Leone and Somalia are considered third world countries. Sierra Leone is in ruins as a ten year civil war has gripped the country. Rebel and government forces have taken political views and ideas to a new level as wars and battles breakout in cities and villages. Rebel forces are fueled by political beliefs, supplied by profits of the diamond industry, and stocked with child soldiers. Rebel forces practice violent and deadly methods, killing the most innocent. Young women are being raped and tortured, while faultless civilians are dismantled. In some cases children are snatched from their families; in other situations, they are forced to join the armed group for their own protection and survival. Child soldiers are rampant throughout the world in areas such as Sierra Leone and Somalia. In order to keep the peace between rebel forces and to prevent illegal recruitment of child soldiers, it will be necessary to establish military protection at villages and small towns.
Conditions of countries that employ child soldiers all have similar traits. Countries such as Sierra Leone and Somalia have deteriorating health and education programs, and a lack government regulation. Due to the lack of regulation many rebel forces work to establish more power, thus, leaving countries in the most dangerous conditions. “Somalia is one of those troublesome ungoverned areas- perhaps the worst in the world.” Somalia has been contaminated with rebel violence for nearly two decades and recently is under cease- fire and overwhelmed with terrorists. The streets are covered with a blanket of rubble and plastic...