300,000 There are an estimated three hundred thousand child soldiers around the world. Every year the number grows as more children are recruited for use in active combat. Here you can listen to these children explain how they became soldiers, what stops them from leaving and how some have managed to build new lives for themselves. combat The development of lighter weapons - such as the AK47 - means that boys as young as eight can be armed. The smallest boys are placed closest to the enemy. In war, they are said to be fearless. Children are often less demanding soldiers than adults. They are cheaper to keep as they eat less and are easier to manipulate. Both sides believe the unpredictability of small children makes them better fighters. Some are sent into battle high on drugs to give them courage. The Burmese military regime also uses children in combat. The children work as slave labourers, carrying army supplies or working on government construction projects. | | 'I was forced to join them' Mohammed's story | threats In combat children are often captured and threatened. They fight for whoever controls them in order to stay alive. In continuous civil war there are many children who have often fought for both sides. | dreams Although the war continues in Sierra Leone, some children have managed to escape. But often children who have been forced to kill and slaughter in their own villages cannot return home. Children who join the RUF are ostracised by their families and fear they will be hunted down by the militia. | 'If you're happy' the children's songs and dreams | More than anything, the former child soldiers want peace and the chance to go to school. Many of the girls dream of becoming nurses. Some of the boys want to be priests. | hope Rehabilitation of the child soldiers is a difficult process. The children have been brutalised and have carried out killings. They have wielded life-and-death power over adults often in their local communities. The armies using them have fed, clothed and given them shelter. There are projects in Mozambique, Angola and Somalia helping former child soldiers. At the Marka Militia Rehabilitation Center in Somalia, Abdi is training to be a fisherman. In Sierra Leone Rose works at an orphanage for escaped soldiers. However, for the majority of child soldiers in Sierra Leone as long as the civil war continues they will be forced to fight. | 'Their future can be bright' Abdi's message (In Somali) Read Abdi's message (In English) 'They are out of control' Rose talks to BBC Africa reporter Tom Porteous | | | | | | | | | | | 'An army recruitment unit arrived at my village and demanded two new recruits. Those who could not pay 3000 kyats had to join the army.' Zaw Tun, 15 Burmese ex-army soldier | | 'I was so afraid of dying. But my friends warned me if the rebel commanders detected any fear in me they would kill me. So I had to pretend to be brave.' Charles, 12 Rwandan refugee | | 'When I get older, I will organise a gang and seek my father's revenge.' Asif, 12 Afghan refugee, | | 'Two hundred gone, we pray that war in our country will stop quickly. We also pray for their souls to rest in peace.' Charlie, 10 Sudanese refugee | | 'I just want to go home and be with my family.' Christopher, 12 Uganda | | 'In counselling sessions they said they had only killed small children. They believed that made it a smaller sin.' BBC Swahili Reporter, Valerie Msoka | | 'They abducted me but still they went ahead to kill my mother and father that night.' Richard, 12 Rwandan refugee | | 'I joined the army when I was young (at 15) without thinking much. I admired soldiers, their guns and crisp, neat uniforms. I just wanted to fight the way they did in the movies and so I joined the army.' Htay, 21 Burmese ex-army soldier | | | | | | |