When development is equated with economic growth and understood merely in terms of GDPs and GNPs, there is a great risk: the risk of exclusion and neglect. Segments of society that do not directly contribute to nation’s economic progress might be forgotten and neglected. Powerless, underprivileged and marginalized populations disappear from development agenda and the gap between the haves and have nots further widens.
This edition of Global South Development Magazine looks at the faces that are often forgotten and and made deliberately hidden. Though hundreds of children die each year in vicious wars and protracted conflicts in the South, and thousands serve as child soldiers, there isn’t much global media attention on that. One child’s death in a Western city causes a global sensation, but death of a dozen children in an airstrike in rural Afghanistan remains virtually unnoticed. They might briefly appear in news corners and NGO archives, but they do not become part of a global debate, and that is unfair!
In this edition we present stories of child soldiers from across the globe and try to give a glimpse of the situation. Stories from Colombia, Sri Lanka, the DRC, and Mali will introduce you to the gravity of the situation. Apart from the cover story, you will also go through Diego Cupulo’s photo essay on volunteering in Nicaragua, read an article about Latinos in London and get to know about a new model of education practiced in rural Nepal. Monica John’s feature report on youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania is equally fascinating as well. GSDM as a volunteer driven global movement is constantly progressing and we are committed to take it even further, to a greater height, but for that we need your continuos support and persistent love. And we hope to receive that. Happy reading!
(The editor can be reached at [email protected])
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