KA025
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
This photo shows how they found me tying up my things quickly.
After tying up my things they made me carry them away and beat me badly with a stick.
I wanted to run away to the lake but I had my bananas and they made me carry them on my head.
Here I am hiding in the forest and they found me over there and they caught me.
Here I am trying to run away, but they ran after me in the forest.
Here I am hiding in the forest but they made me stand up and they began to fight over me.
Here, when I hear the sound of gunshots, I run and hide deep in the forest.
Here I am weeding the beans and they found me in my field and they wanted me to go with them.
I went to collect my goats and they took them from me on the road.
When I heard the sound of gunshots making a noise over there, I ran into the forest with my load and I slept there in the forest.
When I got there into the forest, they used to send me to find food in the fields.
I was sent to cut firewood in the forest.
Here, if I didn't work, I would sleep without eating and be hungry and they would shut me in the house.
Here I am washing their clothes and they would make me do it quickly beating me with a stick.
Here there was a man who said that he loved me and did not want me to go back home.
Here they tell me to quickly carry someone on my back.
Here I am sitting in the field, roasting coffee.
Here they are sitting me down at their house.
Here I am running away from the house where they took me in the forest.
Here they are telling me to carry the charcoal load on my head.
Here I am roasting/preparing coffee that they wish to use out there.
Here they are making me carry a basket — they made me go to find firewood in the forest and if I don't do it, I will have problems.
Here I am at home, at last I have some food in my stomach.
KA026
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
This means I was taken away when coming back from school.
I was taken away to the bush when I was coming back from school.
After this I went to fetch water and was kidnapped.
I went to tie our goat then was caught by the armed men who took me with them.
I was taken away when we were in refuge. They had me fetch water for them.
When in the bush I was working very hard.
They could hardly give me food.
I was always making UGALI for them while in the bush but they never used to give me food.
I went to fetch water and that is the time I got the opportunity to quickly take a shower because if I am caught I will be beaten badly.
After being beaten I was sent to fetch water.
I used to be beaten badly till I will fall asleep.
After beating me, they asked me to clean the compound.
I was just reading their book, when one of them noticed that I was reading I was beaten a lot.
I was very thoughtful and concerned about my life.
I used to be obliged to cultivate while I have not eaten.
I used to go and look for firewood.
I used to pound groundnuts with a stick ahead of me to make sure that I make no movement.
I was making fire then one of them came and threw ashes on my face. I felt so bad.
I could wash the dishes to serve food but they will not give me food.
One day I was very hungry and climbed a fruit tree to get some so that I can eat but when they saw me I was beaten a lot.
They were making me work without eating.
One day they sent me to air the bananas. By mistake the basin fell down. I was beaten a lot.
One day they sent me to get food from the field. Arriving in the field, I was never to do so because I was very hungry.
I was very miserable and thoughtful because of the suffering I was experiencing.
I fell very sick when I came from the bush.
KA027
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
I left school and that is when they carried me to the forest.
I opened the door and then they came and took me away.
They dressed me in military outfit.
This photo reminds me of the suffering I had and it makes me want to run and hide.
I tried to run away and the soldiers saw me and followed me.
They sent me to the place we were going with the things I had with me and my child.
I am cultivating with a soldier behind me to make sure I don't run away.
Here I am collecting water from the tap to take to the forest to wash the dishes and for drinking.
Here I am collecting water from the lake.
Here I am washing the dishes.
Here I am cultivating yams and they treat me like a slave.
Here I am cleaning the house of the commander and if I didn't clean it properly, they would beat me very badly.
Here I am collecting firewood to cook their food.
I am harvesting vegetables for their food but they never gave us any.
They sent me to walk to the main road.
I was made to sew clothes because I knew how to sew. I would sew clothes for people on the spot.
Here I am cleaning again.
I am carrying bricks to build their house.
Here I am carrying drinking water.
I am tired and I am lying down in the chief's house to rest.
I am thinking about my life before and now and my trouble and then they rape me again.
I am planting.
Here I am making fufu — they don't even give me a little bit and I go to bed hungry.
Here I am back at home as I wanted — I want to go to school but it is a difficult life. N.B. I don't know if my life will ever be as it was before.
KA028
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
This is the photo of how I was raped by the Interahamwe on the way from the market.
I took this picture to show how I was raped by the Interahamwe.
I took this picture to show how I was raped by the Interahamwe.
I took this photo to show how I am living in the pig house with the Interahamwe.
This picture shows us as we leave the forest.
This picture shows me carrying bananas.
This picture shows how I carry a load of charcoal.
This photo shows how they helped me to escape and get into a boat.
This picture shows how I was drawing water and they beat me.
This picture shows how I am lacking something to eat and so that is the reason why I am stealing aubergines.
They are forcing me to carry loads of charcoal and I am carrying them to the destination.
I am returning from the forest and thinking of running away.
I am wondering how I will be able to run away.
I am looking for a way to run away from the Interahamwe.
I am climbing in the forest.
I am in amongst the foliage and I am staying there.
I am growing vegetables in the forest.
I took this photo to show me harvesting yams.
I took this photo to show me washing the cooking pots.
This photo shows me shelling beans.
This photo shows me cleaning the dishes.
Here I am with cans of milk on my head after I have come out of the forest.
Here I am out of the forest and I am selling tomatoes.
Here I am out of the forest and I am selling bread.
This photo shows how I sleep.
KA029
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
I took this picture to show how when they took me away, I began to cry.
I arrived at the road and I began to work — Then I began to think how it would be if I became a soldier, but I'm just a child and I'm thinking about my family and I am very tired.
We arrived in the forest and I began to cut harvest leaves and vegetables and they told us that was the work that we would be doing.
Here I am cutting the sticks for the shelter and then living in it.
Here I am collecting firewood and tying it together.
I was climbing in the forest even though I was told there was a storm.
I got sick and began to think, "How will I ever get home?"
When I said I was tired, they said they would cut my throat.
This is to show how I cut the plants.
I felt hungry and so I made food.
I went to collect water.
Here I am collecting yams.
Here they are annoying me all the time.
This is the house we were inside.
This is one of the Mamas in the forest.
Here they asked whether this papa was my husband.
Here they began to call me.
Here is one of their wives.
Here I am looking for a way to run away.
Here is our yard where we lived with them.
Here is where we slept during the daytime.
This is our commander.
Here are the people who guarded the yard.
This is the end of the story.
KA030
Affiliation: Former Underage Combatant
Gender: Female
Moderating NGO: PREV
Sub-Site: Bushushu
I was coming from fetching water from the spring and the soldiers took me on my way back.
I fell very sick while I was in the bush.
I was selling MANDAZI when I was still at home. This was my main activity and I was able to get little money to cover my needs.
The rebel took me to their field in the bush.
The soldiers attacked me when I was taking my cassava to the village mill.
I went to get banana from the field for my family and I was attacked on my way to the field.
I fell sick and was hospitalized.
I used to make cassava flour for the soldiers in the bush.
Soldiers were making us cook for them but were not giving us food in turn.
We were busy making and pounding groundnuts for their food.
In most cases we would make potatoes for them but they would not give us (leave us starving).
I jumped on a tree to cut mangoes because I was very hungry. When they saw me I was beaten to death.
When I was with them in the bush I was busy doing house chores for them.
I was hiding away from them because I was tired of being bitten.
I am caught.
Hiding on the tree.
I felt really sorry for my life when I was in the bush.
I was caught.
I am working in their garden.
I sneaked to wash my only piece of KIKWEMBE.
I was being obliged to brew local beer for them.
I am working in the small garden.
This soldier caught me by surprise in the house.
I am coming back from collecting firewood.
I have come back home and selling my MANDAZI.
I am sick and I am taking medicine.