A Long Way Gone
by Ishmael Beah

Research Project
Becoming a Global Citizen-Child Soldiers

Computer Lab Activity:  Becoming A "GLOBAL CITIZEN" – Child Soldiers

You may work with a partner.
Awareness of the living conditions of people in other parts of the world is a critical aspect of being a “global citizen.”  Too often, we are so focused on our own lives that we forget that millions of people live in war zones and struggle every day for basic survival.  Around the world, children are singled out and forced to serve as soldiers by both armed forces and armed opposition groups. Approximately 250,000 children under the age of 18 are estimated to be fighting in conflicts around the world, and hundreds of thousands more are members of armed forces who could be sent into combat at any time (source: Amnesty International).

In this lab activity, you will learn about the issue of child soldiers, one of the countries where they are fighting, and the efforts to save these children and rehabilitate them.   Review a few of the following websites to start your research. 
http://www.amnestyusa.org                          http://www.child-soldiers.org
http://www.childsoldierrelief.com                 http://www.unicef.org
http://www.childsoldiersinitiative.org            http://www.savethechildren.org/

You may also conduct your own search to identify an organization that addresses the issue of child soldiers and learn about child soldiers.  Write a two-page (minimum) report of your findings.  Your report must answer the following questions.  Be sure to provide specific information to answer each question.
The Organization

• What is the mission or purpose of this organization?
• What services do they provide to address the issue of child soldiers? How do they provide these services?
• In what countries does the organization provide services?
• How does the organization fund their activities? (donations, government funds). What percent of their budget is spent on services?  What percent is spent on administration?

The Issue

• Select a specific country, or conflict, in which child soldiers are used. 
• Write about this country and conflict and the plight of child soldiers: How many children are involved?  How are they used?   What are the effects of their involvement in war? What happens to them when they are no longer useful to the army?

@ SLRHS Library Online

QUALITY ARTICLES In Our Database Library
    Use these databases at home with the password list available at the library circulation desk
ABC-CLIO American Government, American History, Ancient History, World History,Social Studies ebooks
eLibrary  Magazines, newspapers, books, transcripts, maps, pictures, and AV files
For home use click here and enter your public libary card number.
Gale Student Resource Center General, biographical, health, literary criticism, business, and professional articles
Infotrac  General, biographical, health, literary criticism, business, and professional articles
For home use click here and enter your public libary card number.
Opposing Viewpoints

Organizations that address the issue of child soldiers :

Amnesty International
http://www.amnestyusa.org/

Child Soldier Relief
http://childsoldierrelief.org/

Child Soldiers Initiative
http://www.childsoldiersinitiative.org/

Child Soldiers
http://www.child-soldiers.org/home

UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/

Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org/

9-29-09 SLRHS Mrs. Macdonald