After viewing “Ugandan Children of War,” use this guide to research child soldiers, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.

UgandanChildren of War

Discussion Guide for

Research» ACCORDING TO UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES, a quarter million children

are involved in armed conflicts worldwide. They are exploited in state-run armies, paramilitaries, and rebel groups, serving as combatants, spies, suicide bombers, porters, human mine detectors, and sex slaves. Their health and lives are endangered and their childhoods sacrificed.

» IN RECENT DECADES, experts estimate that more than 2 million children have been killed in armed conflicts; an estimated 6 million have been seriously injured or permanently disabled. (Source: UNICEF, Children in Conflict and Emergencies)

» CHILDREN MOST LIKELY to be forced into military service include those who are: •Separatedfromparentsorcaregivers •Livingalonewithoutasupportiveadult •Livingonthestreets

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•Fromminoritygroups •Isolatedorhavelimitedsocialskills •Livinginornearconflictzones

» THE DRIVING FACTORS for forced child soldier conscription include: •Abductionandenticementbyarmedgroups •Governmentcomplicity •Abundanceofsmallarmsandlightweapons •Absenceofworkandeducation

» CHILD SOLDIERS MAY EXPERIENCE: •Generalpoorhealth(malnutritionandinfectiousdiseases,includingHIV) •Seriouswarinjuries •Physicalabuseordeprivation •Drugaddiction •Sexualabuseandexploitation •Seriouspsychologicalandsocialproblems •Unwantedpregnancy(particularlydangerousforgirlswhoareoften

malnourished, physically immature, and living in unsanitary conditions •Death

(Source: UNICEF, Children Associated with Armed Groups,May2006)

ReflectBEFORE WATCHING THE VIDEO and learning more about the causes and lasting effects of child-soldier conscription, what did you know about child soldiers in Uganda? Has your understanding of the crisis changed?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE SUFFERING in Uganda went largely unnoticed for so long?

RecallWHO WERE THE “NIGHT COMMUTERS”? Where did they go every night and why?

FOR OVER 20 YEARS, JosephKony,leaderoftherebelgroupLord’sResistanceArmy(LRA),fueledhisarmiesbykidnappingchildrenandforcingtheirinvolvementinthecivilwar. Young girls were forced into sexual slavery, and cult-like versions of religious rituals were used to isolate and intimidate the children. What effect does such indoctrination and exposure to violence and abuse have on young boys and young girls?

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THE CIVIL WAR THAT RAGED for decades in Uganda resulted in nearly 2 million people displaced,twogenerationsoforphans,anAIDScrisis,andanestimatedminimumof30,000children kidnapped by rebels and forced to commit atrocities. Children who escaped or were rescuedfromtheLRAfacedisolation,lastingeffectsoftrauma,anddifficultyinfindingemploymentduetotheirlackofjobskills.RecallfromthefilmhowtheWorldVisionUgandaChildrenofWarRehabilitationProgramworkedtohelpformerchildsoldierscopeandmoveforward. Why are such programs essential to children’s recovery and future?

RespondRECALL HOW CHILD SOLDIERS andgirlsforcedintosexualslaveryaretraumatizedbyabuseandwarandstigmatizedbytheirfamiliesandcommunities.Howcanyouamplifythevoices of these children whose experiences have been largely invisible to the rest of the world? How can you work together to inform others and advocate on their behalf?

WHOSE SUFFERING AND NEEDS are going unnoticed in your community? How can you serve and love these people?

FLORENCE LAKOR, WORLD VISION UGANDA STAFF MEMBER, listens and responds tothetragicstoriesofcountlessformerchildsoldiersattheWorldVisionUgandaChildrenofWarRehabilitationCenter.IsGodcallingyoutobealisteningearandactiveservantforsomeone you know?

Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» PRAY FOR CHILDREN IN UGANDA and around the world who have been deeply harmed by war, conflict, and isolation.

» BECOME AN ADVOCATE. Increase awareness of the plight of child soldiers. Write the president and your congressional representatives urging them to put high-level pressure on countries that exploit children in armed conflict. Advocate also for the allocation of more humanitarian assistance to rehabilitation programs and other needs of children affected by war. To learn more about child soldiers and how you can become an advocate, visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events.”

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» SPONSOR A CHILD THROUGH WORLD VISION. For just about a dollar a day, you’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts will help make a world of difference for your child and his or her family and community. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on the “sponsor a child” icon.

Resolve» DEFEND THE CAUSE OF THE WEAK and fatherless; maintain the rights of the

poorandoppressed.Rescuetheweakandneedy;deliverthemfromthehandofthewicked.—Psalm82:3-4

» [THE LORD] RESTORES MY SOUL. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear noevil,foryouarewithme;yourrodandyourstaff,theycomfortme.—Psalm23:3-4

Rely PRAY THAT:

» GOD WILL TRANSFORM THE HEARTS of those who force children to become childsoldiers.Prayalsoforthosewhoareworkingtorescueandrehabilitatechildrenwho have been forced into armed conflict and subjected to abuse.

» THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY will be permanently disarmed and that lasting peacewillsettleoverUgandaandaffectedneighboringcountries.Praytoothatthegovernment will find ways to promote reconciliation within Ugandan society.

» THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY WILL PLACE A HIGH PRIORITY on freeing and rehabilitating child soldiers throughout the world.

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About World VisionWORLD VISION isaChristianhumanitarianorganizationdedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World VisionservesalongsidethepoorandoppressedasademonstrationofGod’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty andinjusticeinaholisticway.That’showWorldVisionisunique:We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

PartneringwithWorldVisionprovidestangiblewaystohonorGod and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.

About World Vision ResourcesENDING GLOBAL POVERTY and injustice begins with education: understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

WorldVisionResourcesisthepublishingministryofWorldVision.WorldVisionResources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our resources, contact:

WorldVisionResourcesMailStop321P.O.Box9716

FederalWay,WA98063-9716Fax:253-815-3340

wvresources@worldvision.orgwww.worldvisionresources.com