Our Reach

In one village, eastern DR Congo, three children were abducted by rebel soldiers whilst working in a field with their father. Their father carried a heavy burden of food supplies when the militia members approached the family. They left the father for dead and kidnapped the three children, taking them to their camp.

When the rebel soldiers clashed with another armed group, the children managed to escape the camp with a woman who had also been abducted. With no family left, the children made their way to their aunt who had five children of her own to take care of. Insecurity and roaming armed groups meant she dared not go to the field she worked on to earn an income.

Local organisation Centre Résolution Conflits (CRC) heard about the case and immediately went to visit the children and the aunt to offer urgent care and psychlogical support. CRC found the children a host family, supported the children to go back to school or receive skills training, and worked with the local community to accept the children back as they are often fearful of returning soldiers, however young they are. Slowly, the children are resettling into their community. While their experiences will remain with them for life, they are receiving the critical support they need to move forward from their trauma.

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