Community reintegrating former child soldiers in Northern Uganda
Livelihood approaches have been the mainstay of FCS community reintegration programs (Beard, 2014). These interventions take into account “social ecology” and equip the FCS with subsistence resources and skills beyond psychosocial intervention.
James M. Van Leeuwen
Laurie Miller
Maira Zamir
Ryan Grundy
Jerry Amanya
Clifford Chen
Michael Feinberg
Overview
This study aimed to profile the qualities of a holistic community reintegration program for former child soldiers (FCS) 1n the Lira region of Northern Uganda. Informants were a convenience sample of 37 FCS (age range 17 to 34, mean age 23.86, SD = 4.715 years; females = 29.73%). FCS completed semi-structured interviews on their current living situations and existing resources. This was aimed at assessing how they were transitioning back into the community and identifying gaps in resources. About 24% of FCS reported feeling unwelcome in their communities, suggesting a need for additional support and resources through the community integration models.
Thematic analysis of the data suggests that the FCS would benefit from a holistic community reintegration program with the following qualities: psychosocial support, workforce development training, and job placement. FCS emphasized the need for skills training and employment opportunities over health and wellness; suggesting that mental health support and health care are not sufficient alone for them to successfully reintegrate into the community. FCS community integration policies and practices should prioritize holistic approaches.
