Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

How are mobile phones leading to the use of child soldiers?

• There has been a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1998.

• The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people.

• The sides are fighting for control of valuable resources like gold, tin and tungsten and tantalum (used in mobile phones and computers to improve battery performance).

• Child soldiers are used by most sides in the conflict. The armed groups that use them make money by controlling mines or ‘taxing’ the people who work in them.

• The purchase of many mobile phones and computers contributes to the use of child soldiers. The higher the demand for tantalum, the more children are used to take over territory and collect payment from mines.

• The DRC has one of the largest numbers of child soldiers (estimated at 30,000). Some are as young as nine.

• 1/3 of the soldiers are young girls.

Enough! Is an organisation that set out to end the use of child labour

and child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the box labelled ‘Breaking the Link’ write down any methods you might use to draw attention to this issue. No idea is too bizarre or unrealistic!

Using the ideas on the board….Write down:A practical idea that you think would have a powerful impact.

The idea that you believe would simply not work (and why!)

The idea that would be great in an ‘ideal’ world but not the one we live in…

What the Enoughproject does: Use social media to educate.

What the Enoughproject does: Use celebrities to get attention.

What the Enoughproject does: • Use Social Media and online petitions to put

pressure on companies to use conflict-free minerals.

• The Enoughproject organises itself around the idea that if awareness leads to consumers changing their spending habits then companies will stop sourcing the 3Ts from countries where child soldiers are used.

• Visit http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/ and complete the webquest sheet.