Michel Chikwanine
He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Michel grew up amid the terror of the Great War of Africa. He watched people torture his father for his political beliefs, witnessed the rape of his mother and was tortured himself.
His
Story
“WE are silent for the 300 000 child soldiers and the 250 000 000 child laborers!”
At the age of 5, he was abducted by rebel soldiers and was told "this is your family now." To initiate the abducted children, rebels cut their wrists and rubbed a mixture of gunpowder
and cocaine into the wounds to disorient them. Michel, and several others were then blindfolded. He was given a gun and they yelled at him to shoot, he did as he was told. Upon removing his blindfold he was faced with his friend Kevin laying on the floor covered in blood. Michel says "they forced me to kill Kevin" then the rebel soldiers soon say “You cannot go home now, because your family will never take you back after what you have done". Michel went through a lot and now shares his story with many others and is hoping to end the issue of child soldiers.