Helping Former Child Soldiers and Vulnerable Women Overcome Poverty, Drug Addiction and Criminal Behavior

It is believed that over the 110.000 ex-combatants from the Liberian war, 20 percent were child soldiers. Out of the first 33.000 known combatants, over 15 percent were youth under the age 15 years and about 6,000 or more out of these were known to be under the age of 9.

Since the war started in 1989 and ended in 2003, most of these children have grown, with ages ranging between late teens and early 30′s. What happened to most of them since 2003 is not too difficult to find out once you land in Monrovia. Rejected by their own families, discriminated against by their communities, and still addicted to drugs given by rebels in order to fight against their will, they gather to live in ghettos*, where they continue to abuse narcotics and indulge in criminal behavior to sustain their addiction.

Most of the women who reside in the ghettos were either given as “wives” to rebel leaders during the war for sexual exploitation and/ or are today submitted to abuse and violence in trade of food, shelter and drugs – most often used to numb traumatic stress symptoms.

This outreach program is the most challenging for us, because even at the prison where we work with former combatants, we are able to establish a safe environment to work and monitor their well-being over time. With gangs in their own environment, safety for our participants is compromised, and keeping track of our participants can be very difficult. Because we can only offer day outpatient programs, some disappear for days to hide from police searches, and it becomes very difficult to motivate them to return.

Logan Town Outreach

Logan Town is known as one of Monrovia’s most deprived areas. In the summer of 2009, we inaugurated a branch in the community, and after over a month of negotiations with one of the gang leaders, we were granted permission to visit their ghetto* (a 10 minute walk from our branch). Upon arrival, we invited their members to join our program. From over 40 individuals interviewed, 15 were admitted to the program.

During the year, they participated in support groups for trauma, depression, and drug abuse as well as literacy classes. Each member had an individualized schedule based on diagnostic results, and they were also encouraged to visit our office whenever they needed psychological support. We worked to create an environment of safety and calm for healing.

Our biggest challenge remains that there are no detoxification centers in Liberia. When attempting to treat trauma and depression, assisting with vocational training, going back to school, and helping them start on a job, our team is limited to motivational psychology, which often looses the battle to chemical dependence.

Our Impact

Out of 15 participants, 4 made significant change to their lives (quitting drugs and gang activity, moving out of the ghetto*, attempting family reconciliation, and getting jobs). We mourn the loss of a dedicated participant, Marie Toe.