Kindersoldaten (E)

Child soldiers                                                                                                           Marie Hummer, 6B

There are 300.000 child soldiers worldwide today. In many countries (mostly in Africa and Asian) rebels or the government take children as soldiers. Two million child soldiers died in the last years. There are more children in rebel groups then in armies of the government.

A lot of them are just picked up from the streets like children who sell things on the street; others are taken away from school in big groups. Even in countries where it isn’t allowed to be a soldier under 18, they take children into war, because many of them don’t know their age and the doctors say there 18, so they can work as soldiers for the government. The government often take children from poor families, but hardly rich children. Sometimes they just take rich ones, so their families buy them free.

There are also children who decide to go to the army but they often do not really want it but they are under big pressure or influenced by elders. Some of them also want to go there because they see being a soldier as the only chance to get something to eat, a place to sleep and medicine.

Some parents even offer their own children to armed groups because they think it could be the only chance for their children having a good life or because they get money for them.

All these children have to torture other people, fight against the enemies, find mines and defend their camps. A lot of them are fearless after some time because they get drugs and alcohol to calm them down and they see their groups as a family after they get brain washed.  A lot of them think after some time that they have to fight for their own rights and against all people who are against their groups.