Paul was 13 years old when he was abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). He lived as a soldier for eight months before escaping this horrific existence.
Becoming a Soldier
"After we were abducted, I moved with them north to Kitgum, then to Teso, central Uganda. We walked hundreds of kilometres. It took about a month. Then they said I was not a prisoner any more, I was their soldier.
"To make you 'their soldier,' they cane you rigorously with a machete until you are so hurt and angry that you could kill somebody. When you are caned like that, you don't get medicine, you stay like that until you heal.
"They do it like they are joking. They say they are making you a soldier. They say they are chasing the spirit of mercy and of staying-at-home out of you. I was told not to be afraid or worry.
"After that, I was trained how to shoot and clean a gun. I wasn't given a gun though because there weren't enough.
Escape
"While running from government soldiers, I had to stop. I was unable to walk any more. The rebel solider I was running with said, 'I will have to kill you.'
"He cut me on the head with a machete and he left me unconscious. Somehow, God kept me alive. I was there the whole night. The next morning a woman found me. She helped me back to her home, gave me some food and then took me to the government soldiers.”
Recovery
"They took me to a hospital, where I stayed for a month. I was given clothes, soap and food. Staff members counselled and talked to me. It helps to talk about my story.
"I've since gone back to school. When I leave school, I'd like to be a driver. I've done enough walking."
World Vision’s Work
In many conflict zones around the world, children are abducted and forced to fight alongside armed groups. In these areas such as Uganda, World Vision works to help former child soldiers recover from the nightmares of war, through counseling and therapy programs.
World Vision Canada is also committed to advocating for peace in conflict zones and is actively involved in lobbying at an international level. Lasting peace is the only true solution to the issue of children who are abducted to fight as child solders.
You Can Help Restore a Child
Give a gift that will help reintegrate child soldiers into normal, productive lives by providing things like medical and psychosocial support, family reunification, education and skills training.
