A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Introduction: What is a Child Soldier?

Opinion Line Ups

• Every human should have rights• Children should have the same rights as adults• War is always wrong

Photos

Discuss:• What is a child soldier?• What is happening in the photo?• How does it make you feel?• What are your questions about this?

The Power of Childhood (War Child Campaign Video)http://www.warchild.ca/

Camp Okuttahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa2wlnJ7Dy0

Zaw Tun’s Story (Burma)

• 'I was recruited by force, against my will. One evening while we were watching a video show in my village three army sergeants came. They checked whether we had identification cards and asked if we wanted to join the army. We explained that we were under age and hadn't got identification cards. But one of my friends said he wanted to join. I said no and came back home that evening but an army recruitment unit arrived next morning at my village and demanded two new recruits. Those who could not pay 3000 kyats had to join the army, they said. I (my parent) could not pay, so altogether 19 of us were recruited in that way and sent to Mingladon (an army training centre).'

Myo Win's story:

• 'We were drugged and ordered to move forward on the battlefield. We did not know what sort of drug or alcohol we were given but we drank it because we were very tired, very thirsty and hungry. We had walked for two whole days under very hot burning sun. The hill (battlefield) had no shade, trees were burnt and artillery shells were exploding everywhere. We were so scared, very thirsty and some of us collapsed due to over-tiredness. But we were beaten from behind (by the officers) and had to move forward. One got killed.'

Child Soldiers: The Full Picture

First Stereotype: All Child Soldiers are part of active combat

True or False?

False.

Second Stereotype: All child soldiers fight for rebels.

True or false?

False. Child soldiers are recruited by both rebels and governments.

Third Stereotype:All child soldiers are abducted or forced into conflicts

True or False?

False. Some children volunteer or are volunteered by their parents.

• Fourth Stereotype: All child soldiers are boys

True or False?

False.

Fifth Stereotype: All child soldiers kill

True or False?

Child Soldiers

• Case studies: Beni and Marie Agathe (DRC)

How did being child soldiers affect their lives? Discuss in pairs / groups

Child Soldiers

Case studies assignment:1. Read the case in groups and pick out key

events. 2. Create a freeze frame set (3-5 frames) along

with a narration to tell the story OR create a storyboard. Include information you learned today. To be presented to the class.

Sources:War Child CanadaBBC: Children of Conflict