In this hot and dusty town in eastern Chad, Jesuit Refugee Service lives its mission of accompaniment by working with former child soldiers to help them return to a normal life after several years of conflict. The program also seeks to prevent any new recruitment of children into fighting units.
In Abeche, two JRS social workers help about 40 children. Each former child soldier is visited at least once a week, to ensure those who are enrolled in school are attending classes, and to learn if the business-owners are facing any new problems they may need help with. JRS organizes meetings with teachers and community leaders to ensure the former child soldiers are not being marginalized but are instead being fully integrated back into local society.
Helping Former Child Soldiers Return to Normal
Christian Fuchs is the Communications Director for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, an international Catholic non-governmental organization whose mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. You can support the work of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA by clicking here.
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