I was pleased to see Matthew Little's "Child Soldier Survives to Tell and Help", on the front page of the April 2 edition of The Epoch Times. Using children as soldiers is a serious issue that needs more exposure. According to UNICEF statistics 300,000 children under the age of 18 have been drawn into living a life as a soldier, just like Ishmael. This happens in over 50 nations to kids as young as seven and forces children to be spies, sex slaves, guerrilla fighters, and go on suicide missions.
Ishmael gives us hope that everyone can change, "I don't think anyone has ever gone beyond the point where they cannot be healed at all." We all need to take that to heart and speak out for the children that cannot speak out for themselves. The first way to do that is to bring awareness to the issue and I am grateful Ishmael Beah and Matthew Little are doing just that.
Katie Wilhite
Campbell, California
