Child soldiers are children under the age of 18 that are used for military purposes. Some children are used for fighting, while others can be used for various things such as porters, cooks, spies, or messengers. Basically whatever job they are told to perform by their commanders. Some child soldiers are teens but others can be as young as 4 years old. Children get recruited into the military because people find them easier to force into service than adults. Children are often separated from their families in these situations. Children being in the military can be harmful to children's development for a number of reasons. For one thing, they witness a lot of violence. This could affect them socially and emotionally in the future. They are also at a MUCH higher risk of getting seriously injured or even killed.
How to help
There are many ways to help save these children. You can donate any time to Child Soldiers International, a program that helps prevent children being recruited into the military. The Global Citizenship Club at Tahanto is also doing their part to support the cause. They have collected donations at all 3 lunches and are running a cafe for a cause in support for “Red Hand Day” which is a day that is meant to spread awareness for child soldiers. All donations will be donated to Child Soldiers International. For more information, you can visit their website. To find out ways to give back, click “Get Involved”.