Child Soldiers

Connections- Ishmael Beah and the 14 year old killer both used firearms and guns to show violence. Ishmael became a child soldier because the army forced them to join war against the rebels and kill them. The 14 year old killer got the skills and the will to kill through the effect of video games and media violence. The assault rate in Sierra Leon during 1990's had been far greater than any of the other countries as mass killings of innocent people were taking place in this war torn country. Studies have found that most of the soldiers are trained to kill as Ismael Beah was trained by army commanders to kill rebels. The military used brutalization to make soldiers embrace violence and discipline and accept it as an essential survival skill. Ishmael Beah was being trained by the military to kill the rebels or they will kill him. They were being exposed to violence for long periods of time as they had completely lost themselves and accepted the war as a part of their life.When kids nowadays see pictures of human death and suffering they make it pleasure and entertainment. Same way Ismael Beah and other war children were so used to violence and drugs that when they killed rebels it became celebration and enjoyment for them. The author tells us  to protect children from toxic, addictive substance, and violent imagery. In the case of Ishmael Beah and other children they were being given drugs by the army which numb their senses and suppress their emotion so that they could not differentiate  what is right or wrong.

Challenges- Why did NGO and child organisations did not act against the use of drugs in fighting the war? Why didn't the other nations invest in  NGO and child organisations when they were trying to help these children? How could the army use such brutal methods and force children to fight rebels? Why was the treatment being done in a war torn country and why were these children not deported to safe place where they could be away from violence?

Concepts-  Key concepts were that war has negative effects on children and certainly on those that are being forced to join the war. Many of these children were  being given drugs and manipulated by the army commanders to kill others. They are mentally disturbed and become subject to violence. These children had very little future and no education unless they were willing to act. War leads to killings of innocent civilians and loss of life. Children lose their parents and siblings and often have to grow as an orphan. It is very hard for those children exposed to war to become a normal human being and many times it leaves a big impact on their lives. Many child organisations are trying to support these war children but it also requires other nations to contribute and invest in NGOs and child organisations so that they can reach out to as many war children as possible.

Changes-  The biggest change happened when Ismael Beah and other war children were being brought to rehabilitation camps. In these camps the children were taught to behave like a normal human being. It takes a lot of hard work since at first most of these war children were mean to the workers, they have had a really hard time to keep these children away from drugs and any addiction. 

It was also very hard for these children since their bodies had  been so conditioned that it craved for 

drugs. It took Ismael Beah 8 months to to change himself. For him the turning point was when a nurse who used to look after him understood his misery and knew what he felt. Her perseverance and understanding nature helped him to change himself and return to a normal life.