A day in the life "Somalia"

Somalia has one of the most troubled histories of any “modern” country. After World War 2 the country gained independence from Britain and with that fell into communism relatively quickly. This communism eventually led to a dictatorship that would ravage the country economically. Fed up with the countries state of affairs a Civil war began between the countries people and its government. This war disrupted food distribution between the country and further damaged the already staggering economy of the country. Hundreds of thousands left the warring country and what remained at the end of the conflict was a very torn apart country devoid of any true rule system. Piracy is openly committed by some of the poorer members of the country as a way to supplement supplies that its country is lacking. What effect this has on the countries children is massive.

Children can attend one of 722 classrooms set up throughout the country. A child can go to school for the initial 8 years of grade school and may progress into secondary school if they so choose. Children are taught geography, math, and English as well as agriculture and Arabic. Lessons last 36 to 40 minutes.  Somali has seen an increase of 27% attendance in recent years. Higher education is largely private with options in the hundreds as to where to attend.

Health care in Somalia is somewhat slippery.  One in 10 children will die in childbirth. 70% of the country goes about un inoculated which is reflected in the average life span of a somolian being 47.

One special problem facing the children of Somalia is the Prevalence of child Soldiers. The U.N has fought with Somalia several times over its refusal to stop the use of Child Soldiers.  The children are conscripted at age 8 and are deployed around age 12. Somalia uses these children as disposable attackers in various conflicts. Something disturbing to note is the U.S funds the Somalian military and recently has had to take steps to assure they were not the ones funding the children. 

Sources

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/world/africa/17somalia.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1361394.stm

http://www.wes.org/ca/wedb/somalia/soedov.htm

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-10-10/news/0810090770_1_somalia-ground-for-industrial-waste-pirates