Child Soldiers



The research I conducted for unit 8 was about child soldiers in Africa. I specifically  chose this topic in relation to the play Fugee by Abi Morgan as the main protagonist Kojo was from Africa and thats where his family was killed by child soldiers. This topic has huge relevance in the play as its the reason why the story is steered into the wrong direction, affecting all the characters surrounded by the main protagonist due this his past traumatic experience where his family was killed by the "Kids with Guns". With this in mind I chose to research this topic as its a real issue in the world today.






The map above  shows (in red) the countries where armed forces recruit children, according to the UN’s list of shame in 2017. They are: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Thousands of children, Boys and Girls serve as soldiers in armed conflicts around the world. These children , some as young as 8 years old, serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. They our made to fight on the front lines, participate in suicide missions, and act as spies, messengers, or lookouts. Girls may be forced into sexual slavery.The majority of children were recruited by force or abducted after their  families were killed just like Kojo the main protagonist in Fugee. 

https://youtu.be/e0Qe6GNnKDM

 This video is a primary source of evidence directly speaking to the individual child soldiers in South Sudan and their unique traumatic stories of how and when they were recruited. 

 "David" said that he was captured at 16 years old, "They took me, they killed my father" and they told him "If you don't want to go with us , it is very easy, we will kill you". 

Abi Morgon done a great job showing the hardship and trauma of the child refugees especially Kojo and what he's  been through with the child soldiers and how this experience affects everyone around Kojo. As the main protagonist we sympathise greatly with Kojo and his traumatic  story, however we are  horrified when he kills an innocent man despite the fact it could be justified as he is only " just a kid". 


Sources:
https://www.child-soldiers.orgThe Scotsman- 
https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights/child-soldiers
https://youtu.be/e0Qe6GNnKDM






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