The battle to instil hope:
Child soldiers are brainwashed and brutalised, it's a challenge for them to find peace
Independent owner Evgeny Lebedev talks to former child soldiers about life on the frontline and the challenges of returning to normality
Independentvoices.com and The Independent newspaper have launched a campaign together with Unicef to tackle the problem of child soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR). Over the coming weeks, through the pages of the newspaper, this site and social media we will be raising money for this crucial cause.
All the money raised in this appeal will be spent on Unicef’s vital work for children who have been abducted by rebel groups and forced into armed conflict in CAR.
Unicef - the United Nations children's fund - is the world's leading charity for children.
Please be as generous as you can. Click here to donate now, or send a text message with the word "child" to 70030 to donate £5.
• £25 provides a child with all the essentials they need when they are first rescued: including a mosquito net, mattress, clothes and a toothbrush
• £62 provides vocational training to a child
released from armed groups
• £103 trains a teacher for children rescued
from armed groups
• £150 pays for psychological support for one
child who has been rescued from armed groups
• £300 buys enough toys for a centre for 50
rescued children to play with, helping them regain their childhood
• £516 supports one child rescued from war for a whole month. This covers the cost of
everything they need, including care, food, counselling and education
Thanks for your support!
Child soldiers are brainwashed and brutalised, it's a challenge for them to find peace
Child soldiers are across Africa are separated from their families, but I've seen how Unicef can reunite them
These stars have supported our campaign for child soldiers
Self sufficiency is the final stage in rehabilitation for child soldiers
Life after horror for ex child soldiers
The horror ex-child soldiers have seen, and how to repair the damage
Rebel advance makes Unicef's work all the more important
We must help the children of war
Child soldiers can have hope in spite of the horror they've seen
How your donations have helped
Meet the women giving child soldiers a new start
World's biggest club backs our campaign for child soldiers
Unicef are doing everything they can to give former child soldiers a proper celebration
'We've seen your money in action--and it works'
Former child soldiers speak out
The women making new lives after being freed from the Lord's Resistance Army
How Unicef is giving former child soldiers a fresh start
They have been forced to do things no one should do
Why we need to talk about child soldiers
'Killing became as easy as drinking water. I will never be able to forget.'
I support this appeal because I have seen how charity brings hope to children forced to kill
The revealing drawings of children rescued from war
The former child soldiers forced to flee rebel surge
Why Unicef does no more valuable work than when helping Africa's child soldiers
Fighting to give new hope to the children of war
Help Unicef give child soldiers another chance
A special report to open this year's Christmas appeal
You will be charged £5 plus one standard rate text message. UNICEF will receive at least £4.96.