Children on the Front Line: Sierra Leone
The decade-long civil war of the 1990s in Sierra Leone created an estimated 2.1 million refugees. At least half were children, most of whom suffered appallingly high levels of atrocity and cruelty resulting in a generation with mental health trauma. As part of its effort to engage and educate the youth in post-war Sierra Leone, Plan funds Respect Rappers a collective of 30 performers, many of them ex-combatants. The rappers¹ street performances draw crowds of people who listen to their songs advocating peace and nation building.
Children on the Front Line: Philippines
As one of the countries in the renowned "ring of fire", the Philippines is hit by regular typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters - resulting in severe damages to lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. The backdrop to this documentary is the devastating mudslide of February 17 2006 in Southern Leyte Province which resulted in the loss of over 1000 people in St Bernard town alone. Almost 6000 families were evacuated or relocated and more than 20 school buildings had to be abandoned as they were located in areas susceptible to repeat landslides. The landslide followed ten days of heavy rain and a minor earthquake measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale. Due to the vulnerable geographic nature of the Philippines, many schools are built in the hazard prone locations along the spring-line belt in landslide risk areas. The documentary tells the story of 16 year of Honey, and her school in Santa Paz, Southern Leyte -Thanks to a child-led lobbying and letter-writing campaign, the school has now been relocated to a safer area. Alvin and Archie, also share their personal experience of the Guinsaugon landslide and explain how they are now active in promoting a culture of prevention through theatre and school-based early warning and preparedness measures.
Children on the Front Line: El Salvador
Since the 1998 Hurricane Mitch, El Salvador was hit by earthquakes in 2001, Hurricane Stan in 2005, and by many other tropical storms during its annual hurricane season. There are Efforts to build resilience to face the many hazards facing the country, include addressing its environmental problems of deforestation and pollution.
Children have become key agents for reducing disaster risks and impacts. In many communities children's emergency committees or "brigades" have been set up. They undertake risk and hazard mapping exercises, initiate mitigation activities and mobilise to respond when hazards threaten to become disasters. These youth brigades are also active in a wide range of environmental protection campaigns such as rubbish collection, reforestation and water source protection. But it is particularly rubbish in the form of plastic waste which is one of the biggest environmental hazards. It gets thrown into the dried up rivers and when the rains come, rubbish plugs up the rivers causing floods and disease.The documentary shows how children have devised campaigns of direct action with very positive effects on the environment, their families, and their communities. We hear from Monica a child-leader in the Emergency Committee of Las Granadillas in La Libertad, and from Mauricio, a student leader at the high-school in Potonico which undertakes monthly community cleaning campaigns. Rachel from Los Hernandes primary school tells how she teaches younger pupils about risk management and health and hygiene.