Child Soldiers• From Ages 8-20 (estimated)• Poor, separated from their

families, displaced from their homes, living in a combat zone or have limited access to education.

• Murder family and friends

• Wield AK-47s and M-16s on front lines of combat, human mine detectors, suicide missions, supply carriers, spies, messengers, or lookouts

• Raped girls, or “wives”

History of the WAR• Lord’s Resistance Army

(LRA) led by Joseph Kony VS the National Resistance Army (NRA) led by Pres. Yoweri Museveni.

• Alice Auma Lakwena and her Holy Spirit Movement (HSM)

• Both sides use child soldiers

• 90% of LRA soldiers are minors

Night Commuters• 1980s = more than

30,000 abducted• Over 10,000 in 18

months• Night Commuters – walk

miles to safety• Number of 25,000 in

2002• Presently below 4,000• “The Invisible Children”

Escaped

ReflectionI can’t even think of what it is like to

live there. It makes me thankful that I was born in America but also sad that such things actually happen. When I look around and see the many people that I love and hold

dear, and then imagining that I was forced to separate from them and

may even be forced to murder them. Or even the other way

around, my loved one entering my home and hurting me and everyone

around.

The Catholic Social Teachings

Rights and ResponsibilitiesThese people have a right to live, a right to decency and even the right to play.

SolidarityAs we consider people in America our family, people out in the world in other countries are our family as well. We are on this planet together and live together. We should help each other in times of crisis and in need. This is our duty as humans and as people.

The Children of Uganda and Us

Currently

On February 23, 2008 the Ugandan government and LRA delegations to the Juba peace talks

signed a “permanent ceasefire.”Presently, Joseph Kony is on trial for war crimes.

The End