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Peace breaks out

Former child soldiers in Liberia form the "Future Guardians of Peace."

Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in the company of a handful of former child soldiers in Liberia who call themselves “Future Guardians of Peace.” That may sound terrifying but it was inspiring.

When the Liberian Civil War ended in 2003, these were hardened, physically and mentally wounded children. Now in their late teens and early twenties, they’re generous, responsible young people who’ve resumed their schooling, extricated themselves from the drugandalcohol culture of their war buddies and are working hard to earn the respect of a suspicious community.

Observers say at least three factors have been important in the transformation. The first is the chance to tell their war stories—what they did, what was done to them—to trusted listeners. The stories emerge over time because they’re too horrid to remember all at once. But telling them is the first step in healing. The second is the essentials. Food, shelter and school fees cost more than local elders can provide. The band of soldiers found its way to the compound of a U.S. Liberian nongovernmental organization (NGO) called Everyday Gandhis (www.everydaygandhis.com) and began doing chores and construction work in exchange for food. After a few months, the NGO gave them a permanent home and is now guaranteeing their education through college. The final factor is the opportunity to be of service. That’s where their role as Future Guardians of Peace comes in.

These young people are devoting considerable energy to their community, acting as big brothers and sisters to their younger schoolmates, sharing their tiny allowances with former war buddies and listening to their stories. They relish the title of “guardian.” During a stroll through the local market, one member intervened in a dispute between a young boy and his little sister, calming them with a hand on their shoulders and a few quiet questions. On a different day, he took time to listen to the tale of a weeping market vendor swindled out of a large sum of money. Another member paused to listen to two women screaming at each other before continuing on with a grin. “Man problems,” he said. Not much he could do about that.