Have you seen these captivating photos sharing the story of child soldiers by Luc Bassompierre?! I have to say they stopped me dead in my traps and really made me think, no child is born a solider and why are kids fighting in wars in the first place? The images tell a tragic tale of child soldiers in Africa. Exasperated by society’s preconceptions he decided to do something about it. Children are being used as soldiers in armies all around the world. However, the problem is perhaps the greatest in Africa, where countries like the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Sudan have large populations of children that are heartbreakingly viewed as potential recruits. According to War Child, children are recruited because: they are easy to condition and brainwash; don’t eat much food or demand much pay; and have an underdeveloped sense of danger. Some are abducted from their homes and forced to become soldiers. Some are volunteered by their parents due to extreme poverty and hunger at home. In June 2013, The United Nations set a goal to have no child soldiers anywhere in the world by 2016 – let’s all rally to support this initiative. There are eight Government armies listed for the recruitment and use of children, of which six have already committed to make their armies child-free. We should all support groups like War Child to provide children with safe spaces, education, vocational skills, and a voice. If you are looking for more ways to help, start by sharing this post and these photos on your social media pages, we can truly start a though provoking and hopefully social changing conversation. For more resources on child solders including teaching manuals visit www.child-soldiers.org!
