High Hopes, Grim Reality: Reintegration and the Education of Former Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

Betancourt, Theresa S.; Simmons, Stephanie; Borisova, Ivelina; Brewer, Stephanie Erin; Iweala, Uzo; Soudière, Marie de la

doi:10.1086/591298

Cited by 106 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, sustained access to education remains an important consideration for the well-being of former child soldiers (Betancourt, Simmons et al, 2008;Machel, 1996). Opportunities to develop literacy and economic skills can aid in social reintegration of returning children and may act as a deterrent against re-recruitment (Alexander, 2006;Betancourt, Brewer et al, 2005;Sommers, 2003;Williamson, 2005).…”

Section: Nih-pa Author Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Sierra Leone, despite sensitization campaigns in villages, a widespread initial community response was fear toward the returned child soldiers (Betancourt, Simmons et al, 2008). Collectively, these studies suggest that the degree to which community acceptance changes over time play an important ameliorative role for children at risk for poor adjustment given severe forms of war exposure.Finally, sustained access to education remains an important consideration for the well-being of former child soldiers (Betancourt, Simmons et al, 2008;Machel, 1996). Opportunities to develop literacy and economic skills can aid in social reintegration of returning children and may act as a deterrent against re-recruitment (Alexander, 2006;Betancourt, Brewer et al, 2005;Sommers, 2003;Williamson, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This bloody civil war led to human rights abuses, including mass mutilations and the pervasive use of children in armed conflict. Thousands of children, some as young as seven years old, were conscripted into fighting forces and paramilitary groups (Betancourt, Simmons et al, 2008; The World Revolution, 2001). Many young boys and girls were brutalized into submission, drugged and then forced to fight on the frontlines of combat; others who did not fight served as porters, cooks, guards, messengers, servants, …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Females comprise a significant proportion of children involved with armed groups globally (McKay & Mazurana, 2004 Sources of potential protection have also been documented in research on war-affected youth (Barenbaum et al, 2004;Betancourt & Khan, 2008;Lustig et al, 2004). For child soldiers, acceptance from family members, peers and others in the community has been indicated as an important post-conflict determinant of psychosocial adjustment Betancourt, Simmons et al, 2008). For example, Annan, Blattman and Horton (2006) found that male former child soldiers reporting higher levels of family connectedness were likely to have lower levels of emotional distress and better social functioning.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Sierra Leone's Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

Betancourt¹

2009

PsycEXTRA Dataset

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is the first prospective study to investigate psychosocial adjustment in male and female former child soldiers (n=156, 12% female). The study began in Sierra Leone in 2002 and was designed to examine both risk and protective factors in psychosocial adjustment. Over the twoyear period of follow up, youth who had wounded or killed others during the war demonstrated increases in hostility. Youth who survived rape had higher levels of anxiety and hostility, but also demonstrated greater confidence and prosocial attitudes at follow up. Of the potential protective resources examined, improved community acceptance was associated with reduced depression at follow up and improved confidence and prosocial attitudes regardless of levels of violence exposure. Retention in school was also associated with greater prosocial attitudes.At present, Sierra Leone is still contending with the legacy of the 1991-2002 civil conflict involving the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the Sierra Leonean Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), the Sierra Leone Army (SLA), and local groups like the Civil Defense Forces (CDF). This bloody civil war led to human rights abuses, including mass mutilations and the pervasive use of children in armed conflict. Thousands of children, some as young as seven years old, were conscripted into fighting forces and paramilitary groups (Betancourt, Simmons et al., 2008; The World Revolution, 2001). Many young boys and girls were brutalized into submission, drugged and then forced to fight on the frontlines of combat; others who did not fight served as porters, cooks, guards, messengers, servants, NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript human shields or bush "wives." While most point to abduction as their point of entry into their role as child soldiers (Mazurana & Khristopher, 2004), some children may have assumed a more active role in their decision to participate in armed conflict. The breakdown of family and community systems, coupled with insufficient educational opportunities, left many children with limited viable options for the future (Ashby, 2002). Consequently, a militia group's promise of adventure, security, and camaraderie led some to turn to conscription into armed conflict as their 'best among the worst' of options (Machel, 2001;Peters & Richards, 1998;Shepler, 2005). As a result of their involvement with armed forces and armed groups, many youth were witnesses and/or perpetrators of intense physical violence, including summary executions and death-squad killings, torture, detention, rape, bombings, forced displacement, destruction of homes, and massacres of family members. They were deprived of their rights to the care and protection of their families, and denied education and other developmental opportunities.The Sierra Leone conflict involved direct attempts by rebel groups to destroy relations between young abductees and their families and communities. This was done by forcing many young people to commit atrocities (killings, assault) aga...

show abstract

Section: Nih-pa Author Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Sierra Leone's Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

Betancourt¹

2009

PsycEXTRA Dataset

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…I can improve my education. (SKK\Dorm) The literature on education and complex emergencies stresses the positive and normalising effects of attending school for children caught up in such circumstances (Sommers, 2003;Betancourt et al, 2008). This is borne out by the children's accounts of school in the camp:…”

Section: Bananas and Schoolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rice, Slippers, Bananas and Caneball: Children's Narratives of Internal Displacement and Forced Migration from Burma

2011

Global Studies of Childhood

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article provides an account of internal displacement and forced migration from the viewpoint of children living in a refugee camp in Thailand. Using photographs they created and narratives they related, the children represented concepts of structural violence, poverty, food security, school, peer relationships and play and articulated how these were woven into their lived experience. The study reveals how the children constantly make sense of everyday life in a refugee camp with reference to the lives they led in Burma. This draws our attention to the way in which the emotional and cognitive connections they make structure their experience and adds to an understanding of children's perspectives of displacement that goes beyond quantitative indicators.

show abstract

“For a Future Tomorrow”

Hale¹

2018

The Wiley International Handbook of Educational Foundations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

High Hopes, Grim Reality: Reintegration and the Education of Former Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

Cited by 106 publications

References 19 publications

Sierra Leone's Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

Sierra Leone's Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

Rice, Slippers, Bananas and Caneball: Children's Narratives of Internal Displacement and Forced Migration from Burma

“For a Future Tomorrow”

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About