Teach Kids Peace

One of the unsung tragedies of modern times is the practice unsavory rebel organizations in certain African countries have of recruiting children to fight their battles.  Young children, frequently orphaned by the parties involved, are taken and raised to fight for groups such as the LRA in Uganda.

These children, denied any other role models or authority figures, are taught to support and fight for whatever causes these outfits are battling for. In Sudan, young children of this type – sometimes collectively referred to as the ‘Lost Boys of Sudan’ were drafted into rebel armies.

Rather than going to school to learn mathematics and other life skills, these kids were taught to inflict the horrors they had suffered onto yet more innocent victims.  The horrible spiral of violence, once started, is very difficult to stop.

It is up to responsible governments – with the help of NGO’s – to try to help these poor children back onto the path to a productive and prosperous life.  The most important step that can be taken is to retrieve these children from these outfits – which are basically brutal gangs – and find them safe homes with proper schooling.

With well-balanced loving adult role models, these children can start to heal.  With a proper education – learning the details of ‘Soh Cah Toa‘ in Trigonometry, rather than the ‘Rat Rat Rat’ sound of machine gun fire – these kids have the hopes of obtaining gainful non-violent employment as adults.

Thousands of children growing up learning the arts and behaviors of war is perhaps the most insidious and damaging activity for a countries future.  It is imperative that everyone with the means do their best to save both current and future generations from this scourge – raising and educating kids in peace pays dividends not just for the children but for society as a whole.