Long Way Down -Reintegration of child soldiers in Uganda

For the Long Way Down Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have travelled from John O'Groats, Scotland, down through Africa to the most southern point of South Africa -- Cape Agulhas. As with the Long Way Round, they stopped off along the way to visit UNICEF projects to raise awareness and funds for children.

In Uganda Ewan and Charley met children who had been abducted, or recruited, into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and saw how UNICEF supports them with medical care, counselling and vocational training.

Ewan and Charley met David*, who was abducted into the LRA when he was seven-years-old, forced to fight and spent several years as a child soldier. UNICEF helps children like David, providing a reception centre where they receive medical help and counselling, and family tracing. Thanks to UNICEF, David is now back in school and looking forward to his future.
*name has been changed to protect identity.

Ewan and Charley saw first hand UNICEF's work in schools in northern Uganda -- reaching tens of thousands of children with school equipment through the delivery of "School-in-a-box" kits. Ewan and Charley delivered 10 such boxes to one school. The boxes provide all the materials needed to set up a classroom for around 80 children, such as pens, notebooks, blackboards and other equipment.

UNICEF is also working to bring health care to people in the Iternally Displaced People's (IDP) camps in Uganda. Ewan and Charley attended a health catch-up day for new mothers and their babies, helping to administer polio drops and give out Vitamin A to children. They also saw the distribution of the malaria nets UNICEF gives to tens of thousands of households. Malaria is the number one killer of children here.
http://www.unicef.org.uk/longwaydown?thesource=yt

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• Long
• Way
• Down
• Charley
• Boorman
• Ewan
• McGregor
• UNICEF
• project
• Uganda
• Child
• Soldiers
• rehabilitation
• IDP
• school-in-a-box

[polyphasic1337]

It is good to see people take time from their lives to see the truth that is too often hidden away. What we should learn from all of this is that greed seems neverending. My problems are small compared to these situations. I consider my society and this world a failure until real problems like these are resolved.

[gcbrabham]

its just inconceivable how people can be so cruel to children, they have seen horrors that nobody in this world should see never mind a seven year child. This series really did open my eyes to the horrors of this world.

well done to ewan and charley for highlighting this issue.

[homepage8]

i feel bad for the people that have to fight