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

2. 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.

3. Sierra Leone

4. 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)

5. Documentary Clip
The Forgotten War: The Sierra Leone Civil War
-As you watch, write down any reactions, words / phrases, and questions you have

6. Sierra Leone Now trying to rebuild
Slowly creating a democratic government

7. 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?

8. 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) Ishamel Beah on the book and his life

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