Kids at War

At the farm, Grace’s mother helped with gardening to earn money. One afternoon, as her mom dug in the dusty soil and Grace watched her sister nearby, a man approached. He asked for water and work. Neither request was unusual. Millions of South Sudanese had been left poor, hungry, and homeless because of the conflict.  

After handing the man water to drink and a shovel to dig, Grace’s mom turned back to her work. But just as she looked away, the man signaled to people hiding nearby. Five uniformed men appeared, waving guns and yelling wildly. They surrounded Grace, her mom, and her sister, ordering them to sit on the ground.

As the family sat trembling, one of the men spoke. “We are going to train you,” he said, “to become soldiers.” 

At the farm, Grace’s mother helped with gardening to earn money. One afternoon, as her mom dug in the dusty soil and Grace watched her sister nearby, a man approached. He asked for water and work. Neither request was unusual. Millions of South Sudanese had been left poor, hungry, and homeless because of the conflict.

Grace’s mom handed the man water to drink. She gave him a shovel to dig. Then she turned back to her work. But just as she looked away, the man signaled to people hiding nearby. Five uniformed men appeared. They were waving guns and yelling wildly. They surrounded Grace, her mom, and her sister. They ordered them to sit on the ground.

The family sat trembling. Then one of the men spoke. “We are going to train you,” he said, “to become soldiers.”

It may be hard to imagine kids your age or even younger fighting in wars. After all, in the United States, we have a volunteer military. You must be at least 17 years old and meet certain health and educational requirements to enlist.

But in other parts of the world, boys and girls as young as 8 are routinely recruited by armed groups (see map, below). Many military groups find children—especially kids orphaned by war—easier to control than adults. Child soldiers are forced to do everything from carrying equipment and cooking to spying and engaging in combat.

Like Grace, many of these kids are kidnapped by groups of soldiers. But some volunteer to fight because they have no other way to get food. Sometimes entire communities join local armed groups together in exchange for protection. The situation they end up in, however, is often even deadlier.

It may be hard to imagine kids your age or even younger fighting in wars. After all, in the United States, we have a volunteer military. You must be at least 17 years old to enlist. You must also meet certain health and educational requirements.

But in other parts of the world, boys and girls as young as 8 are routinely recruited by armed groups (see map, below). Many military groups find children easier to control than adults. That includes children orphaned by war. Child soldiers are forced to do everything. They carry equipment and cook. They spy on opponents and take part in combat.

Like Grace, many of these kids are kidnapped by groups of soldiers. But some kids volunteer to fight because they have no other way to get food. Sometimes entire communities join local armed groups in exchange for protection. But the situation they end up in is often even deadlier.

The men who kidnapped Grace and her family were part of a rebel group fighting against the government. At their camp, Grace was separated from her mom. The troops grouped her with other girls her age. Grace recognized many of them from her village—a small comfort. 

From then on, Grace spent her days stealing supplies from villages, fetching water, and gathering firewood. She struggled to carry the heavy loads back to camp. If she didn’t move quickly, she was beaten. At night, she took shelter with the other girls in a round hut that they’d built themselves. 

Grace’s mother spent mornings cooking for the rebel soldiers. In the afternoons, she was trained for war. New recruits had to march in step, swinging their arms in perfect time. Some were taught to shoot guns. 

People who refused the training faced brutal punishment. They were tied to trees and beaten with sticks by kids—including Grace. She was terrified, especially when she had to hit grown-ups. Still, she carried out the beatings. She knew that if she didn’t, she might be killed.

The men who kidnapped Grace and her family were part of a rebel group fighting against the government. At the rebels’ camp, Grace was separated from her mom. The troops grouped her with other girls her age. Grace recognized many of them from her village. That was a small comfort.

From then on, Grace spent her days stealing supplies from villages. She fetched water. She gathered firewood. She struggled to carry the heavy loads back to camp. If she did not move quickly, she was beaten. At night, she took shelter with the other girls in a round hut that they had built themselves.

Grace’s mother spent mornings cooking for the rebel soldiers. In the afternoons, she was trained for war. New recruits had to march in step. They had to swing their arms in perfect time. Some were taught to shoot guns.

People who refused the training faced brutal punishment. They were tied to trees and beaten with sticks by kids, including Grace. She was terrified, especially when she had to hit grown-ups. Still, she carried out the beatings. She knew that if she did not, she might be killed.

Over the next few months, Grace had no choice but to adapt to her new life. Yet she dreamed of escaping. And one day—about six months into their imprisonment—she and her family got their chance. While fetching water one morning, they dumped their jugs by the side of the river and ran. Eventually, they made it back to their village.

Memories proved harder to outrun, however. Grace couldn’t forget all the violent things she’d seen and done. Her mind replayed the beatings she’d received—and the ones she’d given out.

She also faced discrimination. Many former child soldiers are bullied or cast out of their villages for having been associated with armed groups—even if it was against their will. And children who were forced to help rebels often fear that government officials will find out and arrest them.

Over the next few months, Grace had no choice but to adapt to her new life. Yet she dreamed of escaping. One day, she and her family got their chance. It was about six months into their imprisonment. It happened while they were fetching water one morning. They dumped their jugs by the side of the river and ran. They eventually made it back to their village.

But memories proved harder to outrun. Grace could not forget all the violent things she had seen and done. Her mind replayed the beatings she had received and the ones she had given out.

She also faced discrimination. Many former child soldiers are bullied for having been associated with armed groups, even if it was against their will. Many are cast out of their villages. And children who were forced to help rebels often fear that government officials will find out and arrest them.

One day, Grace’s family heard that government and aid groups had opened a center nearby for former child soldiers. The center offered counseling and medical care. 

Grace spent six months at the center, learning how to deal with the trauma, guilt, and anxiety that haunted her. While there, she shared her story with Child Soldiers International, a United Kingdom-based human-rights organization that helps improve how child soldiers are reintroduced into communities. Grace returned home in June 2018, ready to move forward.

Now 13, Grace is back in school. When she studies and plays with other kids, it’s almost like her time as a child soldier never happened. 

The violence is far from over, however. Despite neighboring countries’ attempts to create a cease-fire in South Sudan, fighting continues. Thanks to aid groups, nearly 1,000 child soldiers have been freed over the past two years. But kids are still being forced into the conflict. And many parts of the country are too dangerous for aid workers to reach, so they can’t help child soldiers there. 

As for Grace, she tries to remain focused on the future. She dreams of becoming a doctor someday—her way of helping her family, and the many others just like them, finally recover.

One day, Grace’s family heard that government and aid groups had opened a center nearby for former child soldiers. The center offered counseling and medical care.

Grace spent six months at the center. She learned how to deal with the trauma, guilt, and anxiety that haunted her. While there, she shared her story with Child Soldiers International. That is a human-rights organization based in the United Kingdom. It helps improve how child soldiers are reintroduced into communities. Grace returned home in June 2018. She was ready to move forward.

Now 13, Grace is back in school. She studies and plays with other kids. It is almost like her time as a child soldier never happened.

But the violence is far from over. Neighboring countries have been trying to create a cease-fire in South Sudan. But fighting continues. Thanks to aid groups, nearly 1,000 child soldiers have been freed over the past two years. But kids are still being forced into the conflict. And many parts of the country are too dangerous for aid workers to reach. That means they cannot help child soldiers in those areas.

As for Grace, she tries to stay focused on the future. She dreams of becoming a doctor someday. That would be her way of helping her family, and the many other people just like them, finally recover.