World Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. A charity concert in San Marino
No games, no school, no love for them. The choice is between killing or being killed. Over the past decade the children exploited as soldiers are increased by 75%to arrive at a total of 250 thousand minors enrolled in the world. Somalia, according to the UN, is one of the most involved countries, with 1700 exploited young people. Over 2,500 children were recruited in Congo between 2008 and 2019. The practice is widespread, among others, in Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan. The pandemic has also increased recruitments in Colombia, Mali and Burkina Faso. On the occasion of the “Day of the red hand”day established by the UN, Pope francesco he addressed a thought to child soldiers on Twitter: “They are robbed of their childhood, of their innocence, of their future, many times of their life. Each of them is a cry that rises to God and accuses the adults who have put their weapons in their little hands ”. In fact, the baby soldiers are subjected to continuous violence: torture, killings, use of drugs to eliminate pain or fear, unwanted pregnancies. In Congo, children are used many times as human shields during the conflict. There it is difficult to find something to eat, a place to sleep and there is no medical assistance. And precisely for the children of Congo it is destined for the fundraising organized by the Silvana Arbia Foundation with a concert, which took place today at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sanctuary in Valdragone. The baritone performs Luca Grassiwith Leonardo Di Luigi on the violin and Father Armando Pierucci to the organ. “Our project – he says Alba Baredi, president of the Silvana Arbia foundation – is intended for Congolese children, in the Kasai area, who live in the forest but can now study thanks to the six classrooms we have set up, with the support of a priest who is there. This fundraiser is used to pay the teachers who teach the 400 children who attend the school “.
In the video the interview with Alba Baredipresident of the Silvana Arbia foundation