Reintegration, Education, and Forgiveness: Helping Former Child Soldiers End Cycles of Violence

• In Event: Out of the Shadows: Focusing Attention on Less Visible Forms of Victimization

Abstract

Following periods of war and conflict, survivors are often left with mental and emotional trauma due to their experiences. When those survivors are former child soldiers, the healing process becomes even more complicated. Former child soldiers are often not welcomed back into their communities, leaving them with no support and no outlet for coping with the mental and emotional trauma they have endured. When left unmanaged, this trauma can lead them to hold onto feelings of anger or despair, ultimately causing cycles of violence to continue. Though they may have participated in the conflict, these children are victims and rather than punishment, they need education, forgiveness, and support in reintegrating into society. This paper will explore the role of nonprofit and governmental organizations as they provide this type of support to former child soldiers in Sub-Saharan Africa, and will analyze the short-term and long-term impact of these programs. Using a game theoretic approach, this paper will demonstrate how programs that focus on reintegration, education, and ending cycles of violence are the best choice for former child soldiers, their families, and their communities.

Author

• Brittany S. Keegan, Virginia Commonwealth University