Child Soldiers

Over 100,000 Liberian child soldiers were forced into combat on a cocktail of drugs and abuse. Now in late teens and young adulthood, they are desperate for personal liberation and a future with hope.

Child soldiers - some as young as seven or eight - were recruited by both government and rebel forces during Liberia's 14 year long civil war, especial in the second war to 2003.

Cradling assault rifles nearly as tall as themselves, or stretching to reach the steering wheels of stolen pick-ups, they are an all too familiar sight at the frontline.

Often drugged, they are sought after because they are cheap and carry out orders without asking questions. 

A few statements from Child Soldiers up to 2003:

Fighters attacked. They overran the camp and people tried to hide and flee, they rounded up many of the children involved in our programs and were taken to Bumi County, boys and girls, only some have returned. Some of the girls, they died because of how they were treated, victims of torture and sexual assault.

On July 6, seven militia men came to my house, they tied my elbows behind my back and beat me. They raped my mother and two sisters in front of me. My sister is sixteen years old. The seven of them took turns with them and I was forced to watch. So, I had to go and fight them to revenge my mother and sisters.

Militia would promise cars, money or mattresses to get child soldiers. But in the end, they got nothing at all but death. Really, I saw children as young as ten dying on both sides. Some were fighting just to find some daily bread.