Tasks: Child Soldiers

Comprehension:

Study the text 'Child Soldiers' first, then answer the questions.

1. What can you say about the number of child soldiers in the world today? Where do you find the majority of them?
2. Give examples of reasons for joining military groups.
3. Describe the tasks a child soldier may be given.
4. Why is the situation unique for girls?
5. What kind of challenges do children face after the conflict is over?
6. What are DDR programs?
7. Explain what has been done to help the children in conflict-torn countries.
8. In your opinion, what do you think the long-term consequences may be for a country that has used child soldiers in a civil war?

Make a dialogue:

A UN volunteer has just returned home from working with rehabilitating child soldiers. A friend wants to know what the experience was like.

Sit in pairs and make a dialogue based on the keywords in the expandable box. Find as much information as you can from the text.

Match synonyms:

Step 1:

Match the words that mean the same thing.

Step 2:

Pick 10-15 nouns from the text and find synonyms for the words. Make a similar task like the one above, and test a partner on whether he / she can combine the words.

Write:

Write an essay based on one of the following tasks:

1. Years of bloody war and a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen have left the population in shambles. This has made it easy for both sides to exploit Yemeni children, and we know that at least 1000 children have been forced into battle. Find out more about the Yemeni civil war and how children have been used in active warfare.
2. Important key words for the conflict in Liberia are the National Patriotic Front of Liberia and Charles Taylor. Find information about the conflict, Charles Taylor, and how child soldiers were used. Also find information about the situation in Liberia today.
3. In March 2012, Thomas Lubanga was convicted by the International Criminal Court of recruiting and using child soldiers in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Find out more about the conviction, the conflict and the situation in DR Congo today.

See How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay.

Useful Websites

• UNICEF

• Human Rights Watch

• Amnesty International

• Save the Children

• Human Rights Watch: child soldiers

• Dalhousie University: child soldiers