Youth in humanitarian crises

Many survivors of the conflict in Colombia have fled to Venezuela to take refuge where they face problems like unemployment and poverty. However, a workshop has given some refugee children the opportunity to express themselves through photography.

Bloggers continue to discuss the case of US missionaries charged with trying to adopt out Haitian children without permission, as well as other child traffickers targeting vulnerable children.

Many bloggers believe that the Somali government is recruiting young Kenyans to fight rebels in the Horn of Africa.

Different Colombian organizations share their points of view on the violence and armed conflict through videos, including those chronicling family members protesting the deaths of young men lured by the military under false pretenses.

A month after the earthquake in Haiti, problems have emerged involving the treatment of children who are orphaned or separated from their families.

A group of volunteers have made videos of the people they met and worked with in Rwanda, including young people affected by the genocide.

Because rape has been used as a weapon of war in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, many young women and girls are suffering from traumatic fistula, an injury women can experience as a result of rape or force of objects to the genitalia. However, these women and girls are now being treated for their injuries.

Though the major conflict has ceased in Darfur, in western Sudan, the continuing instability and ongoing attacks have been particularly harmful for region’s young people. But youth both within and outside of Sudan have been vital in raising awareness and funds and trying to bring change to Darfur.

Régine Zamor, a Haitian-American, has gone to Haiti to volunteer her services, despite being unaffiliated with any major NGO. In a video interview, she talks about distributing food that she herself arranged to bring and about volunteering in a clinic.

The ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still an issue that demands our attention. Children recruited as soldiers are particularly vulnerable in the DRC. In these videos, citizens of the DRC plead for us to take a stand.

Fleeing from war-torn Sudan to Chad, many young women are susceptible to sexual abuse. One young woman speaks out about her experiences with being stigmatized by her rape.

The oppressive regime running Burma has both forced many Burmese into displaced person camps in Thailand. Young Burmese people are particularly vulnerable, especially due to issues such as sexual health education and trafficking.

The aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti has been devastating, particularly for its young people. Many young people have blogged about their experiences dealing with this crisis.

Though the situation in Haiti is still critical, young people both in Haiti and outside are responding to the crisis by documenting the aftermath of the earthquake, blogging about it, and raising money and awareness.

The years of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken their toll on the country. But young people are writing music and making videos to both express their frustration as well as to raise global awareness of the situation.

Though Liberia is beginning to stabilize from years of conflict, the effects of civil war have taken a great toll, particularly on its young people. However, the situation is improving due to many programs, especially radio shows designed to deal with the problem of HIV.

Despite their differences, Palestinian and Israeli youths are coming together in peacemaking efforts. Two different organizations are helping them make use of the media (through videos and a multi-lingual magazine), in order to overcome differences and try to better understand one another.

The war in Afghanistan has affected young people in a variety of ways. However, young people have found many ways to express themselves despite their circumstances.

As people search for the missing following the earthquake in Haiti, online networks and database prove crucial.

The recent earthquake in Haiti has had a huge impact. People in the Dominican Republic lend their support during this time of crisis.

These excerpts of young people talking about their experiences with armed conflict show how they face the loss of their homes and the disruption of their education.

Violence and sexual exploitation are two of the biggest issues that these young people discuss as they relate their experiences with living with armed conflict.

Drought in rural Kenya has resulted in a lack of food and water, but has also caused violence, uprooted communities, and disrupted the education and lives of young people.