For the best listening experience, use headphones. As you listen to Ndale's story, think about whether any parts of his life – his feelings and experiences – remind you of your own life or someone you know. Has anything similar happened to you or someone close to you? Pay attention!
TW: Be aware, this material contains descriptions of violence. Take care!
Liberated "child soldiers" in DR Congo burn their uniforms.
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Ndale wants to share his story. He grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where armed conflict and violence has been ongoing for decades.
“It was an ordinary day. We were running late to school and took a shortcut through the forest. There were six of us. Suddenly we heard someone calling and saw two men wearing uniforms, carrying weapons. One of them said: ‘You know, in this country we don’t have enough soldiers, so we’ll take you. You’re going to help us.’” “I said: ‘But we’re on our way to school!’” They yelled: “’Listen boys, if you refuse, we’ll kill you right away!’”.
Many children and their familes in DRC have been killed, injured, or traumatized, villages have been burned and fields destroyed. Tens of thousands of children have been abducted and forced to fight as soldiers. Now, Ndale was about to become one of them. When he and his mates meet the adult soldiers on that horrific day, he was only 11 years old. “I was terrified, thinking about my mum and dad”, Ndale continues. “We walked for three days without eating or drinking and were not allowed to talk to each other. They burned our school uniforms. Then, a commander brought a uniform and a weapon and said, ‘this is your pen now. It’s time to learn to kill people’. The man pointed to a tree and told the children to pretend it was a person. Then he said: ‘Make sure to shoot it in the heart.’”
Soon after this, Ndale was woken up in the middle of the night. He remembers: “They told us we had to fight, I can’t even describe how scared I was. People were screaming and we heard the sound of bullets. When I tried to hide, the other soldiers shoved me to go forward. They said: ‘If your friend dies, it doesn’t matter. Just step over him! It’s your duty.’ Two of my friends were killed that first time”.
Three years of endless fighting, marching, and suffering followed. The children were always made to walk up front. This meant that they would be the first victims in clashes with other armed groups. “The whole thing was like a nightmare, but it was real”, says Ndale.
One day, Ndale suddenly saw the chance to escape. He and his friend managed to run away and hide in the forest. Then they started walking to find help, leaving their weapons behind.
“I was so happy”, Ndale says, “We walked to a place where we had heard that child soldiers were being freed and supported. Child Rights Hero Murhabazi Namegabe took us in. He helped us burn our military uniforms and gave us school uniforms instead! My life had finally begun again! I will do my best to stop the recruitment of child soldiers”, Ndale says, “Adults have to remember that they were children once too”.
After he graduated from Secondary School, Ndale wanted to fight for children’s rights. He applied to law school and after studying hard for many years, he will graduate soon! “As a lawyer,” Ndale explains” I’ll be able to help children who have had their righst violated in armed conflict and war”.
