- Friday 24 May 2013
- My Account
- Logout
- Register
- Login
- News
-
Voices
-
Find by writer
- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
- Rebecca Armstrong
- Memphis Barker
- Terence Blacker
- Chris Blackhurst
- David Blanchflower
- Archie Bland
- Ian Burrell
- Andrew Buncombe
- Ben Chu
- Patrick Cockburn
- Laura Davis
- Mary Dejevsky
- Grace Dent
- Robert Fisk
- Andrew Grice
- Stefano Hatfield
- Philip Hensher
- Ian Herbert
- Howard Jacobson
- Ellen E Jones
- Alice Jones
- Owen Jones
- Simon Kelner
- Dominic Lawson
- Donald Macintyre
- Lisa Markwell
- Comment
- Campaigns
- Debate
- Editorials
- Letters
- IV Drip
- Archive
- Our Voices
- Commentators
- Columnists
- Democracy 2015
- IV Drip Archive
-
Find by writer
- Sport
- Tech
- Life
- Property
- Arts & Ents
- Travel
- Money
- IndyBest
- Blogs
- Student
Friday 21 December 2012
'What will become of me without weapons?'
Watch former child soldiers speak about their experiences on the frontline, the difficulties of reintegration and their hopes for a new life
Clemence (above)
15 year old Clemence is newly reunited with her family after years in an armed group. Like other children in the group, she was a combatant and fought on the frontline. Giving up her weapon was difficult at first, but now she looks forward to working as a seamstress after receiving vocational training from Unicef-supported transit centre in Bria, Central African Republic.
Paul
After fleeing from the armed group when he got the chance, 14 year old Paul found sanctuary in the Voix du Coeur Centre for vulnerable children in Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic. He is receiving counselling and is going to school, but is still to be reunited with his family.
Assane
16-year-old Assane was a top ranking official in one of the Central African Republic's rebel groups, but he knew that if he didn't leave he would "get lost" in the group. But getting him out was incredibly difficult because he was such a prized soldier.Nonetheless, the perseverance of Unicef Child Protection Specialist Priscillia Kounkou-Hoveyda paid off and, eventually, he was removed from the group. He now lives with his two older brothers and is back in school.
Unicef is trying to help these children. Relying entirely on donations, Unicef undertakes the dangerous work of negotiating the release of child soldiers from armed rebel groups. The children, scarred by what they have experienced, stay in a secure compound where they work with counsellors and psychologists. They start their education anew an receive vocational training. Where possible, they are reunited with their families.
In these videos, former child soldiers talk about their experiences, about life on the frontline as well as about the process of reintegration. We hope that when you see how these children's lives have been transformed by the crucial work Unicef does you will be happy to support us in our Christmas Appeal on their behalf.
-
Woolwich: The EDL were camped outside my house
Emily Jupp -
Woolwich is only the latest act of barbarism: Muslims, we must take on this cancer in our midst
Ali Miraj -
The Daily Cartoon
-
Woolwich murder: They killed, then they performed - these men should be starved of our attention
Frank Furedi -
Woolwich attack: The EDL will seek to exploit this evil crime for their own evil ends
Jamie Lewis
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Get the best in opinion from Independent Voices, straight to your inbox every Thursday lunchtime.
Subscribe
Amol Rajan
A weekly update from the Editor
Day In a Page
The man who's eaten everywhere
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?
Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed
Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them