THIS CAMPAIGN IS MANAGED BY
A NEW LEAF QUARTERLY
JULY - SEPT
/ 13
Cover photo by Mick Yates
PRESENTED BY
A NEW
LEAF
GETTING TO THE HEADQUARTERS TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 20 Bishan Street 22 Singapore 579768 MAILING ADDRESS Ang Mo Kio Central P O Box 640 Singapore 915605 GENERAL ENQUIRIES (65) 6555 0188 CASH DONATION (65) 6555 0246
BUS 88, 162, 52, 74, 410, 852 TRAIN Bishan MRT Station (18 mins walk)
(65) 6458 8958
Marymount MRT Station (19 mins walk)
Courtesy of Google Maps
FAX
CONTENTS
4
MESSAGE FROM MARCUS YOUNG
6
A NEW LEAF
10 14 18 22
STORY OF SANAN
CURRENT SITUATION – UN DEAL
ABOUT PROJECT: AK 47
GETTING TO THE HEADQUARTERS
MESSAGE FROM MARCUS YOUNG Dear readers, This year Project: AK 47 has succeeded in raising more awareness to the society about child soldiers. Many were shocked when they found out about the current situation that was going on and those who were informed, quickly tried their best to get involved. We were amazed by how the community suddenly worked together in order to put an end to the recruitments of children in the armed forces. Thanks to your efforts and commitment, we achieved in funding the last project, which was to built more homes for the rescued child soldiers in Burma. We were also touched by the letters, drawings and gifts some of you have made for those children. They truly enjoyed going through each and every one of it. You definitely put a smile on their faces. On a side note, we have came up with a new campaign called ‘A New Leaf’ but why ‘A New Leaf’ you asked... This campaign aims to buy a plot of land and built a classroom for the children. We also want to give the children a second chance reintegrate back into the society. Hence, helping them to turn into a new leaf. With more opportunities, they will be more determined to get back on the start anew. Finally, we hope you will continue striving to fight child soldiering. Let’s us work together to not let others suffer the same fate. Thank you, once again. All the best in 2013, Marcus Young Founder of Project: AK47
Photo by Peace Gospel
Photo by Chris Jones
WHAT IS
A NEW LEAF
PROJECT: AK47
Project: AK-47 is a team of
July – Sept / 13
We also do a fair share of
people who are always ready
raising awareness and advocacy
to invade the next hopeless
for these children, but we don't
situation for children in armed
stop there. We can't stop there.
conflict. Our staff members on
And we hope that you won't
the ground are nationals who
either.
are committed to rescuing and restoring the lives of the
Therefore, we exist to rescue
children who otherwise would
child soldiers in Southeast Asia
only know to live in violence,
and Latin America. Because an
war and exploitation.
AK-47 should never be in the
Photo by Stanley Foxx
hands of a child.
WHAT IS
A NEW LEAF
July – Sept / 13
A New Leaf is a campaign that
have received throughout the
was founded in 2013 under a
whole programme, they could
organisation called Project:
then help to reform and nurture
AK47. It is created to raise funds
society. Together with your
for the rescued child soldiers in
cooperation and awareness, we
Burma and give them a second
can guide these children to lead
chance to reintegrate back into
a positive path and change the
the society.
world one at a time.
We aim to build a farm and
Hence, our vision is to give the
school so that these children
children back their childhood
could get a proper education
that they deserve.
and develop important agriculture skills. With the
Photo by Chris Jones
knowledge and skills that they
Photo by Renato Avanzini
Photo by Chris Jones
July – Sept / 13
Photo by Project: AK47
STORY OF SANAN
Sanan grew up around the army
Sanan was in the army for three
because his father was a soldier
years of what he calls “agony.”
and his mother died when he
He recalled his first day, when
was six months old. After his
the “boss” soldier boy had him
father was made a prisoner of
gang raped by the other boy
war by the national army, Sanan
soldiers. They then sent him
went to live with his uncle’s
out to collect old bottles and
family. Tragically, though, his
cans to sell for recycle. He
relatives never quite accepted
continually had to pay his dues.
him as family. When Sanan was
He was their personal slave
nine years old, the army came
when done with his soldiering
to conscript his uncle’s children,
duties and they would often
but his uncle sold him instead.
torture him on a whim.
CURRENT SITUATION – UN DEAL
"The time has come for the mass release of all children from the armed forces..."
July – Sept / 13
Shalini Bahuguna, deputy representative for Unicef in Burma, said in a statement. Burma is known for the highest
The UN announced that Burma
number of child soldiers serving
has released 68 young recruits
in the armed forces around
from the armed forces in
the world. Both the military
February, this year. This has
and rebel groups used child
been the largest number since
soldiering. UN Resident Co-
they signed an agreement in
ordinator for Burma, Ashok
June. 42 children were freed
Nigam, commented that the
in September last year, 24 in
releases were another "positive
February and a further 42 in
step" toward achieving the
July.
government's commitment to end the use of child soldiers.
They were discharged during the ceremony, which was
Ending human rights abuses
attented by officials. This
is a key demand of the
release also meant that there
international community, which
are total 176 children and young
has encouraged reforms in
recruits have been set free from
Burma since the end of outright
the military.
military rule in 2011.
Correspondents mentioned that
The UN has also urged ethnic
the number of recruitments
rebels in Burma to end their
has declined however, it has
recruitment of children.
not stop yet. "The time has come for the mass release of all children from the armed forces,"
Photo by UN News
"It was then that the reality of my life often hit me and I would lie awake and cry with no blanket and little hope." Here was an average day,
But his father never came. We
according to Sanan:
rescued Sanan when he was eleven, and this is his reality
“As a soldier, I had 24-hour
now:
sentry watches and was forced to keep alert. It was extremely
“My house parents are good to
rare if I didn’t have early
me, like my own parents would
morning training and long runs
have been. I used to be scared
as well. The days were abusively
of many things, including dark
hot, and I often scoured
spirits in the hills and trees, but
the hillsides many miles for
now I’m not scared anymore. I
firewood, split the wood, and
now want to learn as much as
worked the farms. The nights
I can so one day I can help my
in the mountain winds were
people and guarantee a better
freezing. It was then that the
life for them…”
reality of my life often hit me and I would lie awake and cry
Sanan is one of the hundreds
with no blanket and little hope.
of child soldiers we’ve rescued
Many nights, the only thing that
and represents the hundreds of
kept me going was the thought
thousands that we have yet to
of my father getting free and
be rescued.
coming to rescue me.”
Photo by Natasha Mulder