A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Ishmael Beah A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Ishmael Beah Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. He moved to the United States in 1998 and finished his last two years of high school at the United Nations International School in New York. In 2004 Beah graduated with a B.A. in political science. He is a member of the Human Rights Watch and UNICEF ambassador Beah now lives in New York City.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone History dates back to the slave trade Impact of colonialism (Britain) Brutal civil war from 1991 to2002 War fueled largely by “blood” diamonds Change in the war wars are fought Child Trafficking = Child Soldiers The civil war resulted in 70,000 deaths and the displacement of more than 2.6 million people (about a third of the population)

Documentary Clip The Forgotten War: The Sierra Leone Civil War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiqHKFMPhHw&safe=active -As you watch, write down any reactions, words / phrases, and questions you have

Sierra Leone Now trying to rebuild Slowly creating a democratic government

Questions to Consider: What does war look like through the eyes of a child soldier? What societal conditions contribute to such a conflict? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? What do we contribute to such conflicts?

Ishmael Beah interview about the book (from CBC: The Hour with G Ishmael Beah interview about the book (from CBC: The Hour with G. Strombolopolis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4yhPSQEzo Ishamel Beah on the book and his life http://www.alongwaygone.com/media.html

Sources: BBC: Sierra Leone Profile CIA World Factbook United Nations Development Programme: Sierra Leone