“I’ve seen so much that a child should never see!”
- 17-year-old Agyun, child refugee
“Thus says the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachael is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Thus says the LORD: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the LORD: They shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says the LORD: your children shall come back to their own country.”
- Jeremiah 31:15-17
There are many children in the world that are refugees, being driven from their home country and forced to live in another land because of civil war. Treasure Bear learned how children in countries like Liberia who had once become victims of war are now helping rebuild their country. During the Civil War in Liberia, many people were killed and many children were trained as soldiers. Solomon, who is 16, now participates in a program to help him overcome his tragic past. He wants “to get the bad, bad things out of my heart.” He hopes to go back to school. He wants to be born again as a child.
In Liberia, Radio C’est la Vie is run mainly by children. This radio station teaches children how to take care of themselves, and listen to their parents. Children talk about how important it is to go to school instead of fighting.
Many children continue to live as refugees far from home. Through the United Nations, child-friendly spaces are established in refugee camps. These offer safe havens for children and women that include infant feeding and nutritional support, water and sanitation services, health care, counseling, education and recreation. Toys, such as puzzles and puppets and creative art supplies are provided. These places provide a sense of security amid the chaos of conflict and flight. School kits have supplies including crayons, books, slates and teaching aids. Refugees are also trained to be teachers and nurses to help.
In many of these countries, child-friendly spaces bring children and young people together. Sports, art, music and play are ways to build strong child and youth networks of support. For example, children living on the street and former child soldiers in Sierra Leone have formed a band, playing traditional music as well as modern rap and reggae. A youth theatre for peace in the Mano river basin has also been established.
Treasure Bear heard the stories of many children who had to run away from their home because of a war in their country and were forced to live somewhere else. It is sad that there cannot be peaceful settlements to disputes in countries. He agreed with an 11-year-old from the United Kingdom when she asked, “Why do world leaders wage war all the time?”
