Child Soldiers
More than 30,000 children have been part of armed groups in DRC since 1998. Many of them were abducted from their homes or schools but others joined the militias by choice as they are promised a better life or were forced to join by their families. For those children who were able to leave, life has not always been much better. Left to look after themselves they often struggle to earn a living and are rejected by their families and communities.
Ex-child soldiers children often find life outside these armed groups hard, either because they can’t go back home or because they have left the militia with children of their own to look after. Either way they are often seen as being a burden that their families can’t afford to support and can end up turning to crime in order to survive, or even being re-recruited back into armed forces. We helped them to earn their own money through livelihood grants which have helped them to support themselves. Many have set up small business' which has helped to establish them as positive members of the community. Around 90% of those who got a grant are still working in their chosen job.
War Child is registered charity number 1071659. Funded by 