Invisible Children

The Conflict

For the last 23 years, civil war has waged in Ughanda between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU), leaving nearly 2 million civilians caught in the middle. The Government of Ughanda has tried and failed to protect its people, leaving an entire generation that has never known peace. In 1996, because of the ongoing war and the innocent villages caught in the middle, thousands of Ugandans were evicted from their homes and relocated to camps. Today, millions are still living in these camps, struggling to survive amidst poverty, disease, and near-starvation.


Although the LRA has been declared a terrorist organization, the war continues. In 2006, attacks killed over 600 people, and over 100 children were abducted and forced into the LRA to fight for the very organization that is destroying their people.

In an interview with Amnesty International, a 15 year old girl plead, "I would like you to give a message. Please do your best to tell the world what is happening to us, the children. So that other children don't have to pass through this violence." This child was forcibly abducted at night from her home by the (LRA), and made to kill a boy who tried to escape. She saw another boy being hacked to death for not raising the alarm when a friend ran away. She was beaten when she dropped a water container and ran for cover under gunfire. She received 35 days of military training and was sent to fight the government army.

The use of children as soldiers has been universally condemned as abhorrent and unacceptable. Yet over the last ten years hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world.

Children involved in armed conflict are frequently killed or injured during combat or while carrying out other tasks. They are forced to engage in hazardous activities such as laying mines or explosives, as well as using weapons. Child soldiers are usually forced to live under harsh conditions with insufficient food and little or no access to healthcare. They are almost always treated brutally, subjected to beatings and humiliating treatment. Punishments for mistakes or desertion are often very severe. Girl soldiers are particularly at risk of rape, sexual harassment and abuse as well as being involved in combat and other tasks.

What others are doing

There are several organizations trying to help in Uganda, and with conflicts all over the world that abduct and use child soldiers. The first step is education. The world needs to know what is happening to bring peace to the region. the Invisible Children organization recruits school children to promote peace and education, helping to donate to build schools, and buy supplies for the camps.

Other organizations, like the Coalition to Stop Child Soldiers, reports to the U.N. in an attempt to get other world leaders involved, calling for the demobilization of child soldiers and to prohibit the use of soldiers under age 18 in armed conflict. War Child International helps to provide, not only material aid, but also to help heal the psychological damage done by forcing children into this very violent adult world.

What Can I do?

1. Educate yourself. There's an excellent documentary out called Invisible Children that tells the story of these child soldiers through their eyes and their experiences. There are also hundreds of articles published about the plights of these children.

2. Spread the word. Let others know what's happening and why we have to stop it.

3. Get involved. Look at the different organizations trying to help, and find one that fits your interest. Start a group at your school or work to help collect donations and spread the word about what is happening.

Organizations Trying to Help

Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Invisible Children
Schools for Schools
SOS Children's Villages