Former child soldiers share stories to build peace

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Former Ugandan child soldiers Grace Arach and Paul Okwokene are sharing their stories with Australians to raise awareness about civil war, child abuse and human trafficking in developing countries. 

Grace and Paul were abducted on separate occasions by rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, Africa, when they were in their early teens. 

Paul said he had tried to escape two weeks after he was capture d by the LRA. 

“When the LRA discovered my plan to escape they beat me with sticks until I was bleeding from my mouth, nose and all over my body. I could hardly move,” he said. 

“I served as a child soldier in the rebel group for a number of years before a rocket propelled grenade injured my leg in a battle. While I was in hospital I heard that UNICEF was helping child soldiers move back to Uganda and so I escaped with 25 of my fellow men.” 

Grace, who won the Ugandan Woman Achiever of the Year in 2009, remembers the time she spent as a child soldier with the LRA as a dark time in her life. 

“During my time with the Lord’s Resistance Army I was tortured, raped, forced to become the wife of a commander and enslaved to hard labour,” she said. 

“But I escaped. I did not give up and will never give up. The old times are gone and a new one has come. I will see to it that no more war happens among my people as long as I live.” 

The pair received rehabilitation after their escape from the LRA - Paul at a UN funded centre called GUSCO and Grace at World Vision’s Children of War Rehabilitation Centre in Gulu, Uganda. They now both volunteer for community based organisation and World Vision Uganda partner, Children as Peacebuilders. 

World Vision’s Peter Bailey said the organisation’s Child Rescue program raises funds to provide rehabilitation, protection and support for children who have been the victims of trafficking and abuse. 

“Each day, there are children all over the world who are tricked, kidnapped, lured and forced into child labour, combat or the sex industry,” he said. 

“Child Rescue supports children like Grace and Paul who have suffered under these terrible circumstances by providing opportunities for recovery and a brighter future.” 

Paul and Grace will present their stories along with singer/ songwriter Levi McGrath at various locations including:

Victoria 

10 April 2010 
6.00pm 
Bayside Church Cheltenham, 99-101 Argus Street, Cheltenham 3192 

11 April 2010 
9.30am 
Bayside Church Cheltenham, 99-101 Argus Street, Cheltenham 3192

14 April 2010 
7.00pm 
Clayton Church of Christ, 25 Burton Avenue, Clayton 3168 

New South Wales

15 April 2010 
7.00pm 
Soul in the City, Pathers Leagues Club, Crn King & Union Street, Newcastle West 2302 (registration required) 

16 April 2010 
9.00am 
Soul in the City, Pathers Leagues Club, Crn King & Union Street, Newcastle West 2302 (registration required) 

Western Australia

18 April 2010 
10.00am 
Northcoast Church, Mindarie High School, Anchorage Drive, Mindarie 6030

18 April 2010 
6.00pm 
Riverview, 1 Thorogood Street, Burswood 6100 
For more information contact: church@worldvision.com.au . 

Ends. 

If you would like to attend any events, or would like images or further information please contact: Sacha Myers, World Vision media officer, on 0457 926 018. 

Media Releases, Child labour, Africa, Africa, Child Deaths, Child Soldiers, Uganda, UNICEF

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