Their Stories
Kon's story
John, more commonly known as Kon, Kelei was barely four when he was abducted to become a child soldier. He was taken from his parents under the pretence that he was being given a safe home and education. Kon was brainwashed into believing that it was his duty as a male to defend and fight for the rights of his people. Although he was not yet ready for active service, at the age of four he was yearning to join the fight. Kon says he "had to build a heart that was a stone heart, and not a human heart, to see a human being as an object to kill." He was kept as a child soldier for five long years before he dared a terrifying escape. Kon is now taking a master's degree in
International and European Law in Radboud University in Nijmegen. He has also founded the Cuey Machar Secondary School Foundation, a foundation that is working towards building a secondary school in South Sudan. On top of this Kon is co-founder and co-initiator of NYPAW, the Network of Young People Affected by War, an organisation that raises awareness about child soldiers and helps with the rehabilitation of affected children and youth. Furthermore Kon works as a public educator for War Child Holland, another organisation that aims to empower children and youth in war affected areas.
The following stories are from South Sudanese child soldiers, who have only recently been released due to the efforts of UNICEF. Some of these children have been fighting in Sudan's civil war for an ongoing 4 years and many have been forced to do and witness things no child should ever have to experience. Out of the 3,000 children released 5 chose to share their stories.
Note: all names were changed for safety reasons
Note: all names were changed for safety reasons
James John, 13
“Our enemies killed my sister, my uncle and other family members. So I joined the Cobra Faction. But life in Cobra is not good — we have to walk so much, sometimes three or four days, carrying heavy equipment. I really want to go to school now. I have never been to school, and after I finish school, I want to help the people in my community — to help them get food. If I had children, I would never let them be soldiers.”
Paul Stephen, 12
“I joined the Cobra Faction three years ago. There was nothing here for us in Pibor — no roads or hospitals or schools. Sometimes there was food. But life in the Faction is not good. There is no rest. The commanders are always ordering us to go out on missions. We are moving all the time. Even when we children get tired, there is no rest. Now I want to go to school. I have never been to school.”
Simon, 9
“I have spent one year with the Faction. I have not done any fighting with the enemy, but I practised shooting trees. When there were serious missions, they wouldn’t let me join because I’m too young. They said only big people go on serious missions.”
Buret, 11
“There was so much suffering in our community. Our people rebelled against the Government, and I decided I would join them. Anyway, I was not in school, and we had no money. I was very young. But now I want to go to school and learn to read.”
David, 15
“I don’t want to be a soldier. I will end up with nothing by being a soldier, and I know one day I’ll get killed if I continue being a soldier. I want first to go to school; then, later, I want to study medicine.”
Quotes source: https://medium.com/@unicefaustralia/south-sudans-child-soldiers-in-their-own-words-68535a81cc96