The chance to be a child again

How Unicef helps release child soldiers and reintegrate them into civilian life

The Central African Republic is home to an estimated 2500 child soldiers. Recruited or abducted by the country's various rebel militias, the children--some as young as nine--are brutalized, drugged and exploited.

Unicef, working entirely from donations, is trying to help these children. Click 'View Gallery' above to see how the charity negotiates with armed groups to try and secure the release of children. Once freed though, the former child soldiers face a difficult journey to be reintegrated successfully in the outside world. It a journey that is supported by Unicef every step of the way.