Introduction Currently over 250,000 children all over the world are being utilized as child soldiers, a term

that is used to refer to children who have been placed in either direct contact with warfare or used by the army for daily chores. These children, some as young as eight years, will be forever haunted by the actions forced upon them that they often end up taking responsibility for. If they are not taught otherwise, their past will always affect their future. In our increasingly connected world, the future of these children can affect our own. Therefore, for the benefit of the children and potentially ourselves, it is exceedingly critical for former child soldiers to undergo reintegration programs that not only reconnect the children with their communities but also aid the community in accepting the children. This paper strives to convey the crucial need for reintegration programs that provide follow-up support for child soldiers and attempts to model an ideal one. With the assistance of well-developed rehabilitation programs, these children will be able to finally accept their past and find a new future.

Results A few common issues were identified among former child soldiers to be the most difficult to overcome during the reintegration process: Understanding the mental health of former child soldiers is crucial in helping the children rehabilitate successfully, which is especially difficult since mental trauma does not leave physical scars. Since there are no quantitative devices that can measure mental health, certain qualitative questionnaire must be created to help understand the childs state of mental health. In one survey (Figure 3), former child soldiers were asked what sort of violence they had witnessed or experienced during the war. Discussion After understanding the major issues these former child soldiers are afflicted with when attempting to reintegrate into society, it is important that we create a program that addresses each and every one of these problems. Currently there are a few rehabilitation programs in Africa designed to help former child soldiers (Figure 4). However, these few centers are not capable of serving the 120,000 child soldiers that have been through the war. Therefore, there is still a great need for rehabilitation centers in Africa.

Figure 1. Child soldiers are sometimes as young as eight years of age.

Figure 3. In a survey of former Ugandan child soldiers, researchers categorized the violence the children witnessed during the war.

Materials and Methods To understand the role of rehabilitation programs in the lives of these former child soldiers, peer-reviewed journal articles were examined and compiled. These articles were found using well-known research databases, including EBSCO, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. Analysis of information was made to better understand the current situation of the child soldiers, the mental effects of the war on these former child soldiers, and the critical need of reintegration program. Finally, these results were assessed to create an ideal model of a rehabilitation center for former child soldiers.

Most of these child soldiers were abducted at the young age at which children are taught life-long skills that will help them find a job in the future. Many of the child soldiers missed their education, something that is greatly valued by all of them. This consequently meant that once these child soldiers left the war, they would not have the basic skills to find a job and support themselves. It is hard for the youth to find jobs even if they have an education and make a living in these camps since most of their time is spent hiding from the rebel groups. Often times when they return to the camps, they simply have nothing to do.

Background History of use of child soldiers in civil wars: DR of Congo The governments army has an estimated 30,000 child soldiers in current use and a total of 60,000 child soldiers have been used during these wars. Uganda The Lords Resistance Army has abducted to date an estimated 20,000 child soldiers. Sierra Leone Both the Revolutionary Armed Front and the actual government used an estimated total of 9,000 child soldiers. *Sierra Leone is one of the few countries in Africa that is in the process of signing the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and is actually going to enforce the age requirement of 18 to join the military.

Community acceptance is important for these former child soldiers since the community is where these young men and women plan to start their new life. It is difficult for them to succeed if they are forced to deal with daily harassment from their community members. As illustrated in the quotes below, many of the community members harbor bad feelings toward the former child soldiers since they are under the misconception that these children are responsible for their violent actions.

Figure 4. Map of Africa with current rehabilitation centers for former child soldiers marked with red flags. Note: Red flags are not indicative of exact location of centers

Some say that all of us should be

burnt because we are the ones doing

An ideal rehabilitation center should provide numerous facilities that would help maximize the ease at which a former child soldier can rejoin his or her community. Below a diagram (Figure 5) has been designed to demonstrate the most basic requirements for a rehabilitation center to guarantee successful reintegration of former child soldiers into society.

all the havoc

-Daniel, 15

When I came back they

said I should have been killed instead of
Figure 2. This diagram demonstrates that the majority of child soldiers are located in the African countries of DR Congo, Uganda, and Sierra Leone

coming back. This really hurt -Peter, 17

Figure 5. This diagram highlights the important parts of a rehabilitation center for former child soldiers.

Works Cited
Annan, Jeannie, Moriah Brier, and Filder Aryemo. "From "Rebel" to "Returnee" : Daily Life and Reintegration for Young Soldiers in Northern Uganda." \ Journal of Adolescent Research 24.6 (2009): 667-679. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. EBSCO. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. Bayer, Christophe P., Fiona Klasen, Hubertus Adam. Association of Trauma and PTSD Symptoms With Openness to Reconciliation and Feelings of Revenge Among Former Ugandan and Congolese Child Soldiers. Journal of the American Medical Association. 298.5 (2007): PsycNET. Web. 8 Feb 2011. Betancourt, Theresa S. "Child soldiers: Reintegration, pathways to recovery, and reflections from the field." Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics 29.2 (2008):138-141. Bolton, Paul "A Qualitative Study of Mental Health Problems among Children Displaced by War in Northern Uganda." Transcultural Psychiatry 46.2 (2009): 238-256. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. EBSCO. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. McAdam-Crisp, JL. "Factors that can enhance and limit resilience for children of war. Childhood 13.4 (2006): 459-477. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. Gilman, Stephen E., et al. "Sierra Leones Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration." Child Development 81.4 (2010): 1077- 1095. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. EBSCO. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.

For Further Information: Contact Sheila Kapyur, kapyursn@vcu.edu To support child soldiers, visit www.invisiblechildren.org