Media Assignment keiko

Loving child soldiers back into society

In the world, children are direct participants in war. Denied a childhood and often subjected to horrific violence, many thousands of children are serving as soldiers for either rebel groups or government forces in current armed conflicts. Sadly, if the war ends, the children become worthless and toxic themselves by drug, tobacco, and alcohol. Same problem has here in Liberia. The author of this magazine spent three weeks in Liberia in order to associate with former child soldiers who call themselves “Future Guardians of Peace.” His purpose of journey to Liberia was to see how children subsist after the Liberian civil war.

After the Liberian civil war ended in 2003, the children were gaunt physically and mentally. However, they are responsible and trustworthy as they go up into early twenties. For example, they proceeded with their education, escaped themselves from the drug and alcohol, and are diligently working to earn honor of the community. Importantly, children could tell their war stories to relied listeners. Yet, some children are too horrified to remember the incident. Moreover, the children founding their way to a small US Liberian NGO called “ganhis” began construction work in exchange for food. By return, the organization provided not only a house but a promise for their education through university.

As I read through the magazine, I was relieved to see how children reconnect to scattered family members and devoted to community involvement. The author declared that the youths are training in photography. He realized that the children are using the cameras to build relationships in the community. Furthermore, the magazine was organized by the factors that have been important in the transformation. Mysteriously, the name of the author was not written in the passage. Also, this magazine is not well known compared to Time or Forbes Magazine. Yet, the author did not show any bias toward the community or children. He chronologically outlined the messages in order to deliver the facts of the struggle of children toward society.

"Loving child soldiers back into society." Ode Magazine 11 April 2008 30 Aug 2008 .