Conflict has broken out in a fictional central African country. Government and peacekeeping forces have clashed with rebels for the past week and there seems to be no end to the violence in sight. Well Town is on the outskirts of the conflict, yet villagers have started to hear gunfire off in the forest and a rebel checkpoint has been set up just outside of the town on the other side of the river. Uncertainty plagues the community, leaving many villagers scared and questioning what to do next.

Conflict affects a community in many different ways. A child’s experience in conflict has a ripple effect that extends to their family and community.

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My medicine has run out and with war at our doorstep no doctors have ventured to this part of town for many weeks. Since the rebels made a checkpoint on the other side of the river I have been unable to get my medicine. I am weak and don’t want my daughter to risk interacting with the rebels.

Miriam, my eldest daughter, is 12 years old; she has been taking care of me and her younger sister for some time now. Miriam’s school has not been open for the past month and I am troubled that she will fall behind in her studies because of the conflict. She is very young but has been working hard to make us food, and keep enough water in the house.

David, my son, at 15 years is now the man of the family since his father was killed several months ago. David left for school one day before the rebels came to our village, he has not returned. I worry every day for his safety.

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If our attack is to be successful, we need to know the movements of the UN troops. I need patrol times, troop numbers and weapons checks.  The little girls in this village make the perfect spies. They look innocent and people do not suspect them.

Some of my soldiers have taken some of the girls as wives. Times can be hard in conflict and my soldiers deserve some comforts. I also have employed some of the boys from the nearby village to help cook and carry supplies.

Most of the children are hungry and desperate. They will do anything I tell them to. If they don’t listen they will feel the full extent of my power and the sting of my bullets. I have no time for insubordination!

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We have received reports from our local partners that children are disappearing in the village. Parents have started to keep their children close and don’t allow them to walk on the road alone. A month ago, schoolteachers stopped going to work because it was too big of a risk. It saddens me to think that the children are the most affected by this conflict. I have seen some children with the rebels. I can only hope that they will be able to return to their families one day.

The fighting is getting worse and HQ has told us that we will be evacuated soon. The rebels stole all of the supplies from our warehouse. We just have enough food for another week and then we will have to leave. It makes me angry that there is nothing more we can do. Talk of conflict has been going on for several months and nothing has been done to prepare us for the violence. It has become very chaotic and we have no idea what other organizations are doing.

It pains me to leave all of these people behind.

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Yesterday, while on patrol, a young girl told me that an older boy from her village was forcing her to spy on UN troops. She was scared and looked like she had been beaten. We are so deep in the bush that I had no clue what to do with her. I don’t know what organizations work with children in the area so I told her to find me again when I come back to patrol his area at the end of the week. I hope I did the right thing.

Back at base I shared my story with some other peacekeepers around the dinner table. They were unable to give me any advice as to what I should do. I heard that there should be a child protection officer at our base but they have been called to another part of the country.

I was unable to sleep that night. I lay awake thinking about a child who needs my help…Help that I am unable to give her.

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These are troubling times. People of all the faiths are seeking shelter. I have opened my doors and am working tirelessly to make sure that everyone is safe and has enough water. The abuse by the rebels is getting worse. Horror stories of women being beaten and children being taken and disappearing into the bush are only making matters worse. The organizations and agencies working in my village have started to pull out because of the violence. I have limited resources at my disposal and I don’t know how much longer I will be able to keep my people safe.

It troubles me when I listen to the radio and hear the international media talk about religious violence and hatred. The majority of people in my town are just trying to live their lives, they help each other no matter what religion they are.

A few days ago a rebel leader reached out to me for advice, I told him to take mercy on my community and set the children he has in his ranks free. He just laughed at me and said it was not possible. I pray that the fighting will stop soon.

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My school has been closed for the past several weeks. I haven’t seen my older brother since he left for school weeks ago. My mother is holding on to hope; she thinks he will come home but people are saying that he is probably with the rebels or dead.

My mother doesn’t want to me walk on the road alone because we have heard of girls and boys being taken.

During the day I have been sitting by the UN base and watching the UN soldiers movements. I was told by one of my friends that there was a boy in the village that is trading food for information. I think he might be with the rebels but I don’t know. He threatens me with violence and tells me that I will never see my mother again if I don’t do as he says. I have to take care of my sick mother and younger sister so I have no choice.

I think I am doing something wrong by talking with the older boy, but what else can I do? I am surprised that I am still alive. The gunshots are getting louder and my mother is getting more and more sick. Some nights I sleep outside because I don’t want my mother to hear me cry.

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The 21^st century has ushered in an era of new wars. Children are greatly impacted by these new conflicts as their families are torn apart by violence, displacement, and disease. At a young age children are coerced, abducted and forced into armed groups against their will leaving their families and life behind. As child soldiers, children perform the duties of cooks, porters, messengers, spies, sex slaves, as well as fighting on the front lines. If, in the past, children were made to fight in spite of their youth, they are now being made to fight because of their youth.

The aim of “Six Stories” is to illustrate the impact that armed conflict has on the child and community at large. By focusing on the parent, the warlord, the humanitarian, the peacekeeper, the religious leader and the child we can see the many ways a community is affected.

Because of the adverse affects that conflict has on a child, the international community must make a rigorous and determined effort to raise children on the security agenda. By doing so, the Dallaire Initiative believes that preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers will contribute to the overall prevention of conflict worldwide.

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