Colombian Child Soldiers

Background

For over 15 years, Developing Minds Foundation has been supporting a program for former child soldiers who are demobilized and no longer part of illegally armed groups in Colombia. Since that time, the program has successfully reintegrated hundreds of former combatants from illegally armed groups, primarily from the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla groups. Our work experience has enabled us to develop deep expertise in their preparation for the transition into civilian life, where they seek to pursue constructive, peaceful, and productive roles in society.

The participants in our project are mostly from rural areas such as small villages in the mountains and remote areas of the country, and as a result of their experiences typically have been indoctrinated in the ways of irregular warfare at a very young age. Many of the former child soldiers in our program were recruited around 12 or 13 years of age, although some entered earlier, and on average these children have been part of the Colombian armed conflict for three to four years.

Project

In the group home, members of the program receive basic education; vocational and technical training in various disciplines such as mechanics and woodworking; psychological counseling and spiritual guidance; opportunities to participate in recreational activities for the purposes of improving socialization skills; and organized family reintegration, where possible.

Blueprint

Developing Minds Foundation has provided a blueprint for the reintegration of child soldiers

Blueprint for Reintegration of Child Soldiers (English)
Blueprint for Reintegration of Child Soldiers (Spanish)