Here are some statistics from the survey so far.
1) What do you think a child soldier is?
a. Some one under the age of 18 involved in a militant movement.
b. Some one under the age of 18 who has access to a fire arm.
84% of people who took the survey thought a was the most accurate definition, and they would be correct.
The last few questions will have the percentage next to the answer.
2) Are you aware of any countries that have children involved in a militant force?
a. Yes__66%
b. No__17%
c. I'm not sure__17%
3) How do you believe child soldiers are created? (You may choose more that one)
a. Abducted__100%
b. Voluntarily enlisted__66%
c. Born into it__50%
d. They believe in the cause__17%
e. They have nowhere else to go__66%
Everyone who took the survey thought that children were abducted and forced into it, and very few thought that the children believed in the cause.
4) What do you feel would be the best form of rehabilitation for an ex-child soldier, so they would be able to return to a normal life? (You may choose more than one)
a. Psychological treatment__83%
b. Physical treatment__50%
c. Nothing would be required__0%
d. Interaction with "normal" children__34%
I was surprised to see that the psychological treatment wasn't at 100% and that the interaction with other children was so low. The interaction with "normal" children is a staple in centers in Uganda.
5) Have you ever seen a movie that had child soldiers in it? If yes than what was it?
a. No__20%
b. not sure__80%
c. Yes (comment field)
Only one person gave a name of a movie, "Hotel Rwanda". Also I think I need to edit this question, the percentages don't add up.
6) If you ran a country that had a militant force that was turning civilians into fighters, how would you deal with it?
a. I'm not sure__100%
b. I wouldn't__0%
c. I'd like to be specific (comment field)__0%
No one had any idea how to deal with an internal fighting force. I don't blame them neither do I, that's why i put this question in the survey.
I've been putting a lot of thought into what I would like to accomplish with this blog and the information with in it. I've been taking you through the lives of child soldiers from abduction, to escape, through their rehabilitation and their challenges they return to when they finally return home.
What I've come up with is there needs to be a major push for education for children. Just like anywhere, the amount of education you have directly effects your income. The average annual income in Uganda is $1,124. The amount of school age children who don't have access to schooling is upwards of 70 million... that's 70,000,000 children. The United States is helping, in 2011 USAID's spent $197.2 million in helping Uganda from anything to peace and security, economic development, and even education. will start a revolutionary chain reaction by empowering the people of Uganda while simultaneously stimulating their economy. This economic stimulation will then put money into the coffers of the government, and they in turn can use it to fight these rebel militant movements that plague their country.
http://results.usaid.gov/uganda
Articles that are detected to the USAID towards Uganda with a dollar brake down towards the programs it was spent on.
http://results.usaid.gov/uganda/education-and-social-services/basic-education
Picture of children holding new backpacks.
