Child Soldiers Can Teach Us Something

Here in Canada we have two child soldiers in our midst. Both have written up their stories in books; “If My life as a Child Soldier Could Be Told “by Junior Nzita and “War Child; A Child Soldier’s Story” by Emmanuel Jal.

Junior Nzita (left) and Emmanuel Jal

Both of these young men have undergone horrific experiences in their youth. They were forcefully taken from their home settings and given a choice – “Learn to kill others or you yourself will be killed!” Their recorded stories tell of unimaginable atrocities. They lived through horrors that no child should ever experience.  Emmanuel’s experience began at the age of seven years old in South Sudan and Junior’s at the age of 12 years old in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I have recently met both of these ex-child soldiers. To my amazement they are both vibrant, positive and dynamic young men. They both are now dedicating their lives to working with other youth to help to prevent the scourge of child soldiers. After what they have gone through, by any reasonable analysis they should now be human wrecks. However, the opposite is true. How did this happen? What are the key factors at work here?

As I have gotten to know these two young men certain key factors keep emerging.

1) At a crucial moment in their lives a key person appeared to take them in, comfort them and help them in their healing process. For Junior it was a man who invited Junior to come and live in his home with his family. This occurred when Junior was in a very lost and lonely place. As a result, Junior is now dedicating his life to help others who have been damaged by war’s violence. You can read more in Junior’s website.

For Emmanuel, the ‘angel’ who rescued him was a British aid worker in South Sudan. She saw in Emmanuel a hidden potential when no one else did. Her caring presence was crucial in helping Emmanuel to become the inspiring rap musician that he now is. His life and ministry has uplifted many others. You can hear some of this stirring rap songs on his website. 

2) Each of these two men had a positive family experience before they were taken to become child soldiers. The loving care they received from strangers helped them to go back and recover that magical youth that they had lost.

3) Each of these two had a spiritual experience as they were in recovery from their past life. This happened in the context of a loving and accepting community. Their change was something beyond pure reason. It was a spiritual redirection. There was more than just body and mind at work here. There is something deeper in all of us – spirit, soul, deep emotions, call it what you will – this inner strength is deep and profound and it can be a source of transformative healing.

So as I reflect on the lives of these two men, I ask myself, “What is the lesson for us today?”

First of all, consider the role of those two important persons who were so instrumental in the lives of these two ex-child soldiers. We should be very aware as we meet new people. We should take great care as to how we treat strangers. We could become the change agents for persons that we meet in the future.

These two ex-child soldiers each had a loving family in their early years. The early years of parenting are so important. Children may wander away, either by external, imposed force or their own waywardness – but if they have known a loving parent they will always have a warm base to come back to.

Finally, whatever your views on the spiritual nature of human existence, these two men are proof that the unexpected and unusual can happen in the darkest and loneliest times of our lives.