KIMMIE WEEKS CHILD RIGHTS HERO NOMINEE pages 90–109

Why has Kimmie been nominated? Kimmie Weeks has been nominated for the 2013 World’s Children’s Prize because he has spent over 20 years, since he was ten years old, fighting for the rights of the child, especially for children affected by war. while fleeing in wartime Liberia, Kimmie almost died of cholera. There and then he pledged to spend his whole life helping disadvantaged children. Kimmie and his friends founded ‘Voice of the Future’ and learned about the rights of the child. When Kimmie was 16 they organised a campaign to disarm the child soldiers in the civil war. This contributed to the liberation of 20,000 child sol- When the war in Liberia begins, Kimmie Weeks is eight years old diers. One year later, Kimmie and flees from his home with his mother. In the refugee camp out- had to flee. He had revealed side the capital city of Monrovia, Kimmie comes close to dying of that the newly elected President cholera after drinking contaminated water. He survives and pledges of Liberia, Charles Taylor, was recruiting child soldiers to the to spend his whole life helping children who are suffering because Liberian army. The President of war. He has kept that promise. tried to have Kimmie killed. As a refugee in the USA, Kimmie “ ut woman, your child continued his work for children is dead. He’s not affected by war, not only in breathing any more,” Liberia but also in other coun- B says a man to Kimmie’s tries, primarily Sierra Leone and mother in the refugee camp. Uganda. Kimmie and other He takes the little body from young people now run an her and carries it away. organisation called Youth Finally, Kimmie’s mother Action International. YAI helps gathers the strength to get up vulnerable children, providing a and go looking for her son’s home for orphans, rehabilitation body. When she finds it of child soldiers, education, among people who have health care and more. YAI also died, she shakes it. lobbies governments and par- Miraculously, Kimmie wakes liaments to promote respect for up. the rights of the child. Twenty years later, Kimmie Weeks is known for

his commitment to helping CHRIS HONDROS/GETTY IMAGES FOTO: children who have grown up One evening, after boys with weapons banged on the door of the in war zones. home Kimmie shared with his mother, they decided to flee.

90 War is coming mother covers his eyes with over, it’s hard to get hold of Children must be heard! At the beginning of this sto­ her hands. They can smell the food. The UN troops, who Every time Kimmie and the ry, Kimmie goes to school. dead bodies among the gum are there to keep the peace, other children manage to He always sits at the front so trees. distribute food parcels. achieve something, they feel he can hear the teacher and They reach a university, Kimmie leads a group of chil­ good and it gives them answer quickly if he is asked a which has been transformed dren on a walk to their head­ strength to keep going. A UN question. He loves learning into a refugee camp. Kimmie quarters, several kilometres peacekeeper gives Kimmie a new things and knows that he looks around in shock. There away, to ask for food parcels copy of the UN Convention is smart. He doesn’t care that are sick children crying, and to be given out in their area on the Rights of the Child. his classmates tease him, say­ people with empty looks on too. Although the soldiers say “Wow! Do you know what? ing that they can’t see what their faces, staring into space. there are not enough food Us children have rights!” says the teacher writes on the The stench makes Kimmie parcels, Kimmie and other Kimmie to the other chil­ chalkboard because Kimmie’s sick. They manage to find an children keep walking there dren. “We have to make sure big ears are in the way. empty bit of floor in one of every day to ask. Finally, the that they are respected here Rumours begin to spread the buildings, and it becomes people in charge give in. The too!” that rebels have crossed the their home. very next day, they bring sup­ Together the children start border. On TV, the President Kimmie and his mother plies to Kimmie’s area. an organisation called ‘Voice talks about confiscated weap­ have nothing with them. Everyone cheers. of the Future’, and their slo­ ons and images of burnt out They have to beg for food villages are shown. from other refugees, and they “We have come to free the hunt for edible leaves and people of Liberia. It will take roots. The water they manage is /SCANPIX b

three days and there will be to get hold of is not clean, but or no bloodshed,” says rebel they have no choice but to ert /C b leader Charles Taylor on the drink it. That’s when Kimmie o radio. gets cholera and becomes so atrick R “I’m afraid,” says Kimmie, ill that people think he’s P and his mother tries to com­ dead. fort him. But things don’t calm Wheelbarrow return down. Quite the opposite When they hear on the radio happens. Rockets start hit­ after many months of war ting houses, and gunfire goes that the country is at peace, on for hours at a time. Kimmie is still so weak that he is brought home in a Had to flee wheelbarrow. Their house is Kimmie and his mother empty. Everything they spend more and more time owned has been stolen or hiding on the floor. Then one destroyed. evening, an explosion shakes As soon as he has his the whole house. Shortly strength back, Kimmie starts afterwards there is banging helping children affected by on the door. Fifty armed men the war. He gathers the chil­ and boys are standing out­ dren in his area and suggests side. None of them wear uni­ that they tidy up all the debris forms, but they have weapons left by the war. The children slung over their shoulders. make an enthusiastic start One of them says: and all the people living in “We have come to free the area are delighted. Liberia. Stay inside!” Their next task is to provide As soon as the rebels have food for the residents of the gone, Kimmie and his moth­ area. Although the war is er sneak out the back door. They follow the flow of peo­ ple fleeing in silent terror. After returning home, Kimmie There are checkpoints every­ and a group of children set up the organisation "Voice of the where, and at each one some­ Future". Kimmie suggests one is beaten or killed. that they should focus on Kimmie and his mother stopping children from being manage to pass the check­ used as soldiers. points. Sometimes Kimmie’s

91 Many homes were destroyed by the war. One of the first things Kimmie and his friends did was to clear up all the mess from the war.

Disarm the children! ground. On one occasion the ment Campaign is successful, Kimmie and two other boys soldiers shoot the ground, and over 20,000 children are gan is: ‘Children should be go off to see the rebels with a right between the children’s set free. seen and heard!’ They take cassette player. Whey they feet. The children are so one article at a time from the approach a checkpoint, they scared that they wet their The President’s child Convention on the Rights of put their hands up to show pants and the rebels laugh soldiers the Child. They knock on that they are unarmed, shout­ scornfully. Sometimes By now Kimmie is 15. All doors and talk to everyone ing: Kimmie and the others are their successes motivate the they meet about the rights of “We want to talk to your kept locked up for hours. But young child rights activists to the child. Since no children commanders.” finally they always get to do even more. People know have ever done anything like The rebels think they are meet the commander and ask who they are and what they this in Liberia, they become spies and force them onto the their question: are fighting for. Children famous. “Are you planning to dis­ have never before managed to When they come to Article arm all the children in your make the people who run the 38 of the Convention, which army?” country change their minds. says that children should not All the commanders reply The country is at peace, and be used as soldiers, Kimmie that they will do that, and rebel leader Charles Taylor realises they have an impor­ Kimmie records their prom­ has been elected president, tant task ahead of them. All ises on the cassette player. despite the fact that it was of them saw child soldiers The children then go to radio him who started the war. during the war. At the next stations and ask them to Kimmie hears a rumour that is /SCANPIX b

‘Voice of the Future’ meeting, or broadcast the rebel leaders’ the national army has started ert /C b

Kimmie suggests: o promises on the news. training children to be sol­ “We have to stop children Kimmie is interviewed on diers at a military base near atrick R from being used as soldiers!” P radio and says: the airport. He takes the cas­ The children agree to dem­ Disarm the children! “To all you children who sette player and jumps in a onstrate and try to persuade Kimmie and the other children are soldiers in this war, Voice taxi. the rebel leaders to release all in "Voice of the Future" got the of the Future says to you: All “Can you drive me to the child soldiers. They start the commanders of the various the promises that you will military base and wait out­ ‘Children’s Disarmament armies to promise to disarm all benefit from the war, and that side please,” he asks the driv­ their child soldiers. On the Campaign’ with the slogan: radio, Kimmie said to the child it will make you rich, are just er. When they arrive, ‘We can’t hold pens while our soldiers: "All the promises lies!” Kimmie says to the guard: friends hold weapons’. about you benefitting from the The Children’s Disarma­ “I have business here,” and war are just lies!" 92 Kimmie set up the organi- sation Youth Action International when he was a refugee in the United States. He returned to Liberia and can work there together with YAI to fulfil the guard lets him in. Soon he here! Come heeeere!” go with him. They know that his promise to help chil- sees the training field. 500 But Kimmie doesn’t turn people who have criticised dren affected by war. boys are marching back and round. He runs as fast as he President Taylor have disap­ forth, carrying fake wooden can through the gate to the peared and been found dead. rifles. They lift their wooden waiting taxi and tells the Kimmie steps through the rifles and pretend to shoot. driver to step on it. Kimmie door and finds himself face to checking to see if he’s being Kimmie goes straight to the realises that his recordings face with Charles Taylor. He followed. But whatever the soldier who is leading the are going to be difficult for is overcome with fear, but he President said, this news has training and says: President Taylor to explain doesn’t show it. He says that to get out. “Good afternoon sir! My away. he has seen child soldiers in name is Kimmie Weeks. training and that this has to Passport for escape Could I talk to some of the President’s death threats stop, in accordance with the The next day, Kimmie organ­ children here?” Kimmie goes to the Minister UN Convention on the ises a press conference. He “Sure, talk away. We’ll take for Justice and says: Rights of the Child. President talks about what he has seen a break,” says the soldier and “What are you doing, Taylor flies into a rage and and recorded at the military walks over to his office. training 500 children to be leans towards Kimmie shout­ base. The story makes head­ Kimmie starts recording. soldiers?” ing: line news in all the newspa­ “I come from Grand The Minister replies: “I’ll tell you something my pers and on radio and TV. Bassa,” says the first boy. “That’s a question for the young friend, if you do any­ The President denies that the “They came to get me, and President!” thing about this, you are at army is training children, and said that I would get good Kimmie gets to meet risk of disappearing, do you says that it is Kimmie who is a training and I could help President Charles Taylor at understand?” ‘threat to Liberia’s security’. Liberia wage war in Sierra his office. Kimmie goes “I understand, Mr The President’s security Leone.” The others tell simi­ alone, because nobody else in President,” replies Kimmie service watches Kimmie. lar stories. the child rights group dares and hurries out. He can’t help Soldiers pop up outside his Once Kimmie has talked to office. They sneak around twenty of the boys he hears outside his mother’s house. someone shouting: They come to school. “Pikin (little boy), come Kimmie realises he is in dan­ here! You have no right to be ger. He no longer dares to sleep in the same place for Kimmie as a hero on crisp more than one night. Then packets in Liberia. Kimmie gets a letter from the

93 Ballots – not alone, and far away from his know he’s coming home. bullets. beloved mother. At first he When he steps out of the car flips burgers in Delaware. But and walks up to their house, soon he manages to get into a the neighbours come run­ good school where he gets top ning, shouting: grades, and can go on to uni­ “Kimmie’s back!” versity. His mother comes out of But Kimmie hasn’t forgot­ the house to see what all the ten his promise to help chil­ fuss is about. They hug each US Embassy, asking him to leaves, disguised as a tradi­ dren affected by war. Along other and cry tears of joy. attend a meeting. tional dancer, with a dance with a few other students, he Most people would have “We want to help you leave troupe that is going on tour. starts Youth Action Inter­ chosen to stay in the US and Liberia,” says the ambassa­ The ambassador has given national (YAI). This is an live a more comfortable life dor. “It’s too dangerous for him a false passport. They let organisation where young there, but Kimmie came you here. President Taylor has him off at the border and the people support children and home. already interrogated your border guard says: young people affected by war, “Liberia is my home,” he friends, and people are look­ “Welcome to Côte not only in Liberia but in oth­ says. “I was almost one of the ing out for you at the airport d’Ivoire!” er countries too. children who died in the war. and the harbour.” Kimmie can relax. He is Five years later, Kimmie is Don’t forget that every child “All this for little old me!” safe. able to return to Liberia for who dies because of war or thinks Kimmie in amaze­ the first time. The war is over famine could have been a per­ ment. “All I wanted to do was Doesn’t forget his promise and Charles Taylor has fled to son who made the world a help the children in Liberia!” Six months later, Kimmie is Nigeria. better place.”  The next day Kimmie able to fly to the USA. He is Kimmie’s mother doesn’t

Kimmie’s advice to young people: Be like an ant!

Kimmie is invited to speak at 4. Fantasise about what you events all over the world. Every want to do in life, for yourself Liberia is all we have. Let's say no to violence. year, over 40,000 young peo- and for others, and work ple get to hear him. The money hard to achieve it. he earns is used to cover the costs of projects in Liberia and Kimmie often says: the other African countries “When war breaks out, it’s as where YAI works. His advice to though life presses the pause young people is: button. You can’t live for real. 1. Find out what you want to Life stands still because of get involved in. fear.” 2. Find a link between you and “Be like an ant, not like a the thing you want to sup- grasshopper! Ants build, port. grasshoppers eat up the things 3. Don’t get involved in some- other people have planted.” thing just because other “We want to build a bridge people are. Think for your- from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’. 94 self! Everything is possible.” shows the residents of  West Point how the cloudy Tex t Clean water for all! water becomes clear and : G UNILL Kimmie almost died because of dirty water. That’s why he safe to drink, they cheer. A wants to make sure all children get clean water to drink: Kimmie drinks a mug of it to H A “Before the war we had water for our houses in show that the water is now E MN

Monrovia. But the rebel soldiers destroyed all the water clean. The onlookers want p h pipes.” Everyone in Monrovia still has to buy water for to taste it too. OTOs: SE drinking, washing, and doing laundry and dishes. “We want to make sure

that more poor families get N A Water deliverer Ojuku water, or other dirty water. filters like this,” promises Y B E Weah takes orders and The drinking water is mostly Kimmie. “Children shouldn’t RH E delivers containers of water sold in bags and bottles. have to get sick from dirty Water for washing and drinking. every day. That water comes from water. Clean water is a “One family usually buys wells that companies have human right.” 10 gallons (38 litres) a day,” bought the rights to use. Liberia’s President, Ellen he says, loading up his They purify the water, pack- Sirleaf, has now asked wheelbarrow with contain- age it and sell it. Kimmie to take responsibili- ers. “But this water is only So Kimmie and YAI give ty for making sure that all for showering and washing families in Monrovia’s poor- the inhabitants of Monrovia clothes. You shouldn’t drink est neighbourhoods a water – 800,000 people – get it, it can make you ill.” filter, so that they can purify running water again. The 38 litres of water costs dirty water and make it safe broken water pipes are almost US$0.13, and one to drink, for example, in going to be restored. More container of drinking water West Point, which is than half of the city’s inhab- The filter makes the dirty water costs US$1, so poor peo- Monrovia’s poorest neigh- itants are children. drinkable. ple still drink the laundry bourhood. When Kimmie

A gulp of the filtered water …

Girls learn a trade ... tastes good, and it won't make you ill. “After school I walk for an finished the course I’m going hour to get here to the YAI to start a hair salon. If I earn Drinking water in bags is expen- girls’ center. Here we can enough money I’ll continue sive for poor people, who have learn a trade. I’ve already my education. I want to be an streetlights. The worst thing no choice but to drink whatever learned to do hair extensions engineer and help to rebuild that happened to me was water they can get hold of, even and nails, like at a real beauty Liberia. The first thing I’m when I had to take care of if it's bad quality. That's how salon. The course is free. going to do is fix and asphalt my aunt’s baby instead of Kimmie fell ill with cholera, and That’s lucky, because my all the roads. They’re in a ter- going to school.” almost died. family would never be able rible state. Then I’ll make Charity L Jargbo, 15 to afford to pay. When I’v sure all the roads have

95 The land “Kimmie’s of freed slaves words made Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed slaves from the USA. In 1840 there were 4 me lay down million slaves in the USA. But more and more people believed slavery was wrong. my weapon” Some people thought the slaves should be freed and made US citizens. Others thought they should be When he was 14, Francis was kidnapped and returned to Africa. From forced to be a child soldier. He learned to kill, 1820 on, around 15,000 freed slaves were transport- and lived a terrible life. But when he heard ed by ship to the part of Kimmie Weeks on the radio, he started to Africa which was then named dream of an end to his time as a soldier. Liberia. Liberia means 'free- dom'. The capital city was named 'Monrovia' after James “ arly one morning our ‘You there,’ shouts one of Monroe, who was President village is attacked. We the boy soldiers, pointing at is /SCANPIX b of the USA at the time. Ehear gunfire from all me in the line of boys. ‘Take or The freed slaves brought around us, and people run in this case of ammunition. ert /C b with them the way of thinking all directions to get away. You’re going to carry it for o that they themselves had Grenades explode. Some hit me. Move it!’ atrick R experienced: that some peo- houses, which go up in “I didn’t know then that P ple were better than others. flames. Suddenly I realise I’ve this was the beginning of a They had been treated badly. lost my family, and run out living nightmare.” In the new country they onto the road with many oth­ human being, even though I became the highest in socie- ers who are trying to flee. Became inhuman had grown up as a normal ty. Those who were already “The rebels have set up a “I was forced to jog with the boy. I learned to kill, as an living in the region were treat- checkpoint, guarded by boy heavy ammunition case on obedient soldier. ed badly by those who came soldiers. Some of them look my head. If I wasn’t fast “We child soldiers were from the USA. The new arriv- younger than me. They are enough, the rebels shot at the always sent out in the front als, the Americo-Liberians, put themselves in charge and wearing all manner of ground beside my feet. line. They gave us drugs to became the country's upper strange clothes. One wears a Eventually we arrived at the make us brave. We didn’t class. They still are. The white dress, another a suit rebel camp. know what we were doing. If unfair division of power was that is much too big. They “I had to learn how to han­ we survived an attack, the one of the reasons for the have magic amulets round dle an automatic rifle. At that leaders rewarded us by giving civil war. The rebel leader their necks, grenades and point I stopped being a us a higher rank to make us Charles Taylor said that he ammunition over their shoul­ would free the country from ders, scary tattoos on their the Americo-Liberians. But arms and war paint on their instead he took power him- faces. There are skulls hang­ self – and Charles Taylor ing on poles. They fire shots himself is an Americo- into the air to scare us. ‘Line Liberian. up! Boys on the right! Girls Lots of things in Liberia are on the left!’ similar to the USA: the flag is “Anyone who doesn’t obey almost the same as the US them straight away is flag, but it only has one star in shot. Panic spreads. the upper left-hand corner People scream and instead of 52. Much of the weep in despair when constitution is the same, they see what is the currency is called happening to the the dollar, and the people around people speak When he heard Kimmie Weeks speaking on the radio, Francis them. began to dream of an end to his life as a soldier. Today he works for English. peace. 96 Convicted of crimes against humanity On 26 April 2012, former president of Liberia Charles Taylor was convicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands. He was sen- tenced to 50 years in prison for crimes against humanity during the war in Sierra Leone, Liberia’s neighbour- ing country, because he ‘planned some of the most brutal crimes in the history of humanity, including tor- When Francis fled, ture, rape and killing’. armed child soldiers Charles Taylor also supplied had set up a roadblock. the rebels in Sierra Leone Francis was forced to with weapons. The rebels join them and become paid him in diamonds, which a child soldier himself. he smuggled to Belgium. People call them ‘blood diamonds’ because they were used to pay for weap- ons that killed 50,000 peo- feel good. The troop became all child soldiers must be ‘You are young like me. We ple and displaced 2.5 mil- our family, and the com­ allowed to leave the fighting. are the Liberia of tomorrow, lion more. The diamond manding officers were our It was the voice of Kimmie and our country needs all its smuggling made it possible parents. We wanted to show Weeks. young people. Don’t let weap­ for the war in Sierra Leone that we could fight fearlessly, “I think about it and realise ons and rebel leaders destroy to continue for over ten because then they praised us. that what he is saying is true. your lives. As soon as you use years. Anyone who showed fear was “I started to dream about a weapon, you destroy your However, Charles Taylor punished immediately. an end to my life as a soldier. own life and the lives of oth­ has not been convicted for “We thought the rebel lead­ But I couldn’t flee from the ers. Work for peace, not war!’ the crimes he caused in his er Charles Taylor was a hero, camp. If I tried they’d kill me “I felt motivated to follow homeland of Liberia. It was and we cheered when we saw instantly. The conflict was his example. After all, Charles Taylor who started him.” still going on in the part of Kimmie was a young boy like the war in 1989. He prom- the country where we were, me. He had been forced to ised it would be over in three The peace ambassador although peace talks had flee Liberia because Charles days. But it went on for 14 “Things carried on like that begun in the capital and Taylor wanted to kill him. years. 200,000 people were for what seemed like an eter­ many child soldiers had been And now he had chosen to killed and half the population

fled to neighbouring coun-  nity. But one day, sitting in disarmed. I felt incredibly come back, to help us. We tries. Over 20,000 children Tex the camp with the other child frustrated. I thought con­ called him the peace ambas­ t

were forced to become : G soldiers, cleaning my weap­ stantly about whether I was sador. soldiers. UNILL on, I hear a young man talk­ going to die now, when I’d “Kimmie helped me and A ing about the war on the only just realised that I other child soldiers to create H A radio, in a completely differ­ should stop fighting. an organisation for the E MN ent way to anything I’ve “Finally, our rebel leader children and young people p h heard before. He says that we signs the peace agreement. who had been soldiers and OTOs: SE child soldiers have been That’s when I meet Kimmie wanted to return to normal

tricked. That the rebels are in person. He comes to one of lives. I work for peace now. N A exploiting us. He also says the camps for child soldiers. I will never use a weapon Y B E that it is against the law to use He says something that I will again.”  RH E children as soldiers, and that never forget:

97

/SCANPIX is

b

or

/C ert b

o Abigail makes c hildren happy

R atrick P

The terrible times begin when Abigail is seven, Abigail, grabbing the bag. and her mother comes rushing in with her little “And you, woman! Got anything else?” brother on her back. The boys search Abigail’s “Quick! Pack your clothes! We have to get out. mother from head to toe. Soldiers have started looting and killing people. Finally they find the money They’ve blocked some of the roads,” she cries. she has hidden under her clothes, and laugh trium­ A child soldier during the war Today, Abigail is 17 years old and is a volunteer in Liberia. phantly. with Kimmie Weeks’ organisation, YAI. She “Ha! I knew it!” says one teaches poor children to read. boy. They walk for many hours efore the war, life was approaching the capital city with lots of other people. good. Abigail attend­ of Monrovia, where Abigail Nobody talks. The only B ed her beloved school, lives. The war is creeping sounds are footsteps on the where she had always longed closer every day. Until one road and children crying. to go. day they have to flee. “Mum, I’m tired,” com­ But when Abigail has only plains Abigail. “Can’t we been in school for one year, Escape rest?” worrying news is reported on They run through the streets, “No, hurry up, we must the radio. The rebels are but around one corner they keep going,” says her mother, run straight into boys with grabbing her hand. large weapons. The boys A small pick-up truck shout and fire their guns to appears on the road. scare people. There are grown Everyone shouts, “Stop! Give men on their knees with rifles us a lift!” Although the back aimed at their heads. is already crammed with peo­ Abigail freezes in terror. ple, the driver stops. Abigail’s She wonders how young boys mother quickly grabs the side can behave like this. and pulls herself up. She man­ “What’s in your bag?” yells ages to grab Abigail’s arm just one of the boy soldiers at as the truck begins to drive on.

98 makes c hildren happy

“Where are we going?” to Monrovia. If things have After more than a year, asks Abigail. calmed down I’ll come back Abigail’s grandmother says “I think we can get to for you.” the words she has been wait­ grandmother’s village this “Please mother, let me ing for: way,” replies her mother. come with you!” pleads “Now we have enough to From the back of the truck, Abigail. harvest.” Abigail, 17 Abigail can see crowds of peo­ “No, it’s better for your Abigail is delighted. My best thing: My TV and my ple fleeing. Some carry their here. But I have to take your Maybe now she can find her soft bed! belongings on their heads, brother with me, because he’s mother and start school. Loves: Learning new things. others use wheelbarrows. She just a baby.” Dreams of: Building a hospital so sees children weeping in Every day, Abigail walks to Back to school that even poor people can get despair, looking for their par­ the road to watch for her Much of Monrovia has been medical care. ents. She sees injured people mother returning. She waits destroyed by the war. Many Doesn’t like: When parents don’t at the roadside, and dead to meet buses and cars com­ houses are shot to pieces or let their children go to school. bodies out in the fields. ing from Monrovia. But her burned out. They move into Worst thing that’s happened: That my mother never comes. a house with some relatives. mother died and can’t see how well my life is going. Goodbye mother! “You have to work hard so Wants to be: A nurse, because The next day they arrive at that we have plenty of crops then you really help people. grandmother’s village. to sell when the war is over. “Oh joy!” exclaims grand­ Then we can go to Monrovia mother when she sees them. and you can start school,” But nobody knows where After a couple of weeks, promises Abigail’s grand­ Abigail’s mother and younger Abigail’s mother says: mother.Abiagail works in the brother are. Somebody says “My darling Abigail. Be a fields, collects water, removes they saw her at the border good girl now and help your weeds and, finally, sows with the Ivory Coast, and grandmother with growing seeds. that she was on the way to the vegetables. I’m going to Nigeria. That is all Abigail take your brother and go back manages to find out. They find a spot at the mar­ ket where they can sell their vegetables. Every evening they count how much money they have made, and hide the

The children often come to Abigail for advice if they have problems, like if they are being beaten at home or bullied at school.

99 she had to flee across the bor­ Wants to help children der to escape the fighting. But When she gets to school the Abigail can see that some­ next day, Abigail says: thing is wrong. It’s obvious “Do you know what?! I that her mother is ill. One heard Kimmie Weeks yester­ night, three months later, she day!” Her classmates want to dies. Abigail cries herself to hear everything he said. sleep every night and stays When Abigail is called into home from school. But when the principal’s office, she she has calmed down she tells wonders what she has done herself: wrong: Some days Abigail goes to the playground after school to talk to “Crying isn’t going to “Maybe I didn’t go out at the children and help those who have problems. bring her back. I’m going to break time... or... maybe “I’ve just moved to town with my mother,” says one girl. “My mother can’t afford my school fees so that’s why I have to sell show the world that Mama someone has died?” But bread every day. I hope to be able to start school next term.” Winnie’s daughter can make that’s not what the principal “You’ll see, it’ll work out,” says Abigail encouragingly. “Study it, even though she isn’t wants to say. hard once you start school. Then you’ll go far.” here!” “Come in. Take a seat and Some time later, Abigail is I’ll tell you what this is about. invited to the end of term cer­ Kimmie Weeks and YAI have money in a plastic bag under there are two paths to success. emony at her friend’s school. offered to pay your school the mattress they share. One Some are born into success, There is a special guest speak­ fees, since you are one of the evening, Abigail and her while others have to fight er. It’s Kimmie Weeks. When best students in the school grandmother are sitting on for it.” Kimmie talks about his expe­ and you work so hard.” the bed as usual, counting riences of the war, Abigail can “My dreams are coming their takings from the mar­ Meeting Kimmie identify with what he says. true! If only my mother could ket. Abigail’s grandmother One day when Abigail comes “Look at that, such a person see me now!” thinks Abigail. says: home from school and opens who has been through the “Now my dear Abigail, we the door, her mother is sitting same difficulties as I have. have enough money for you on the sofa! Her little brother That means that I can be suc­ to start school.” is sitting beside her. She runs cessful too.” Abigail hugs her grand­ to them and hugs them for a “Don’t let hardship stop mother, jumps down onto the long, long time. you in your life. Take your floor and starts to dance “Mother! Where have you studies seriously and become around. She remembers what been? I’ve missed you so what you want to be,” she her mother used to say: much!” hears Kimmie say. “Abigail, don’t forget that Her mother explains that

Abigail loves her soft toys, and all the children who visit her do too.

Sometimes ten neighbouring children gather in Abigail’s soft bed to watch a film on TV.

Dressed up with lovely nails.

100 “Abigail is always fair. She is friendly to people in the area. She takes care of children, plays with them and teaches them things. More people should be like her,” says Abigail’s housemate Mayamu.

a week in one of the poorest parts of Monrovia. She knows from experience how big a difference it makes when someone is there for you when you are young. When someone looks after you and cares about you. There is something else “I know I can make chil­ Abigail wants Kimmie’s help dren feel happy. We sing and with. She finds out where his play a lot. At ordinary school, office is and asks to meet him. you do the same old stuff eve­ “How can I help you?” asks ry day. I want to create a big Kimmie. school that everyone enjoys “I am so grateful for the attending. Laughter helps grant you have given me. you to learn.” Now I want to help children Abigail has also become a who face the same struggles I leader in her area. Many chil­ have faced. Just like you. dren come to her with their What can I do? I have time problems. Some come in tears “Oh how I longed to start after school every day.” after being beaten. Abigail school. It was so terrible when the war broke out and I listens, comforts and offers had to stop again. Education Teaching poor children advice. Sometimes there are is so important. That’s why I Kimmie suggests that Abigail ten other children sleeping in volunteer at YAI’s extra should do the YAI course and her bed. school, helping children who learn to teach children who “I’m proud of being part of are not able to attend ordi- can’t afford to go to school. Kimmie’s organisation. It’s nary school,” explains That suits Abigail perfectly. much better when young peo­ Abigail. She loves being with children ple help each other. We take and teaching them things. each other seriously.”  Now she is a YAI volunteer, teaching children several days

Wearing school uniform.   Tex t : G

Abigail's favourite UNILL shoes to wear at A H

home. A E MN p

During the war, Abigail hoto helped her grandmother grow vegetables. When they s: SE

sold them at the market, N A they got enough money for Y B E

Abigail to be able to start RH E school.

101 Selling things to go to school in liberia, only half of all children go to school. The war made many families poor, with no means to pay school fees. The war also made many children orphans. That’s why chil- dren have to sell things, to earn money for their school fees. Those who live around the YAI playground take the chance to rest under the big tree, and to play and talk with their friends. Abigail usually goes there to give the children advice.

Buy socks! “Every day after school I sell socks to make money for my school fees. I’m glad we have Buy biscuits! this playground here, otherwise I wouldn’t Playing in peace Patience, 13 have anywhere to go when I need a break.” “Children have the right to Biscuit seller Enoch, 15 , Sock seller play! All children need to play! But play is not a given for many children here in Liberia. The Buy a broom! country is at peace now, but Paul, 15 many children still cannot play Broom seller as there are so few places where they can play freely. That’s why we fought hard to keep the playground here in Buy a toilet Paynsville. The authorities brush! planned to take it down and Rufus, 15 build houses there instead. Toilet brush We raised money to restore seller the playground. It was badly damaged after the war – there Buy bread! were bullet holes in the slide Buy soap! and the swing frames had all Rebecca, 13 “My father thinks it’s Bread seller been knocked down. Now good that I work and children come here to play earn money for my again. Our volunteers come school fees. At the here to talk to children and moment I’m selling give them the motivation to go soap. I would rather to school. And the children paint adverts outside shops. who have to work selling I’m really good things to help their families can at drawing.” come here for a while too.” Prince, 15 Buy water! Kimmie Weeks Soap seller Asarah, 10 Water seller No play in wartime Theatre against trafficking “In wartime, when you’re “Many people are afraid to come to school fees, but only if he can exploit her. hungry, you can’t laugh,” says West Point. A lot of former rebel soldiers We do street theatre to help people Lass. “In wartime you can’t live here, and people are poor. There are understand that it’s wrong to treat children play football, or visit friends, many children here who have been kid- like that. YAI supports us because they or do anything that’s fun. napped from villages in the country and believe it’s important for people to know During the war we lay on the brought here to work for someone, beg- what’s happening to children. People like floor, terrified of being killed. ging or selling different things. They don’t our plays and discussions We need peace to be able to go to school and are treated like slaves. often arise afterwards.” play.” Poor girls are exploited by older men. Philomena, 15 Sometimes the man offers to pay the girl’s

102 Wants to learn “I love coming here. Before I had noth- Want to be the Just Lawyer ing to do all day, because my parents can’t afford to pay school fees. But I It’s the end of term want to learn too, just like the children at Zoe-Louise who go to school. And I am learning Preparatory School in now! They tell us stories here, and Monrovia and teach us songs and rhymes. The worst Anthionette, 12, is thing I know is not being able to learn things. I want to become a journalist introducing today’s and write about what happens in other speaker: countries so that we in Liberia can find “Kimmie Weeks is a out more about the world.” role model for us, Tom, 15 because he works hard to make life better for children in Liberia.” Kimmie’s organisation, Youth Action International, has trained the teachers at Anthionette, with her role model Anthionette’s school Kimmie. and provided more fun school resources. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is,” says Kimmie. “I grew up with no father, I was hungry and I had to beg for money to pay my school fees. Keep fighting! Don’t give up! Make Liberia a better place to live!” “I want to be a just lawyer,” says Anthionette. “Because here in Liberia, many lawyers are unjust. Anyone who has money can make sure guilty people get away with crimes. That’s not good. I want Liberia to remember me as the Just Lawyer.”

Students at YAI’s YAI makes school fun “Unfortunately, many schools in extra school Liberia are boring,” says Helena Carter, YAI has founded extra schools in poor areas for the chil- who runs the school program at YAI. dren who can’t afford to go to an ordinary school. Abigail “Often the teaching just consists of a comes to the extra school in New Kru Town after ordinary teacher writing on a chalkboard while Buy water! school several times a week to help teach the children. the children copy into their jotters. If any Asarah, 10 student makes a mistake or talks in Water seller class, the teacher is quick to punish Wants to be president! them with the cane. We want to change “I’m so happy to have started that. It has to be fun for children to learn. school here. It’s like a real That makes it easy to learn.” school, but more fun. I used to “That’s why everyone loves the YAI have to work every day and school program. We do games, songs, wash clothes, fetch water and rhymes and dances. We train the teach- go to the market for food. But one day my aunt told me about ers not to beat the children. They think the extra school, where children it’s impossible to get children to obey can learn things, and said that I them without hitting them. But that’s could go! Now I can write my totally wrong. ‘Talk to the children,’ we name and I have loads of new say. YAI has trained 400 teachers. The friends. I want to be the presi- schools that are part of the program dent of Liberia. When I’m presi- have become very popular and lots of dent I will lower the price of rice, because poor people can’t children want to attend them.” afford to buy it.” Rina, 9

103 “Stop beating children!”

When Nene arrives at the children’s home, all the ene grew up with her “Kulha is like my sister,” other children are standing in front of the build- grandmother because says Nene. “The other chil­ her mother died in dren are like my siblings as ing to greet her. She is shy and doesn’t want to N the war when she was a baby. well.” let go of her grandmother’s hand. Then one of Nene’s grandmother couldn’t the children walks up to her and says: afford to let her go to school. Child Rights Club “I’m Kulha. If you want we can be best friends, Nene often hid just inside her Nene hardly dared to speak to front door, peeking out at all anyone when she arrived at you and me.” the other children rushing the children’s home, except Nene’s move to the YAI children’s home past on their way to school. Kulha of course. But one day couldn’t have had a better start. Now, several She didn’t want them to see a man came to visit. He won­ years later, Nene has grown confident and per- her, because then they would dered if any students wanted shout mean things at her: to start a Child Rights Club forms street theatre for the rights of the child. “Look, there’s the girl who at school. Nene thought: “I’d doesn’t have a mother! She love to do that, but I’m not doesn’t even go to school!” brave enough...” Nene would go running to Afterwards, some of Nene’s her grandmother and sit on classmates came running. her knee, crying. “Nene, will you help us to “There, there Nene, don’t start a Child Rights Club?” cry. Be brave!” her grand­ said one girl. mother would say. “That’s “No, I can’t, I don’t have the only way to move on in time,” replied Nene, avoiding life.” the issue. It was painful to feel “Please, we need you to be excluded from something secretary. You have such good that seemed so much fun. She writing, and you’re doing was so curious, but being bul­ well at school and you’re lied had made her shy. always kind to others. Go One day, a stranger called on!” at grandmother’s house. Nene felt flattered. She “I’ve heard that your hadn’t realised that they grandchild doesn’t go to thought she was so good at school,” said the woman. “If things. Finally she said: you want, she could start “OK, I’ll join in. I’ll have a going to a school near the go at being secretary.” children’s home that I am the There were over 50 students director of. It’s free.” at the first meeting. Nene was The journey to the chil­ so nervous that her hand dren’s home was the longest shook as she tried to write and happiest journey of down what everyone said. Nene’s life. When they Before falling asleep that arrived, all the children were night, she prayed: waiting for them. That was “Dear God! Help me to be when she met Kulha. They confident enough to speak at did indeed become best the next meeting.” friends, and since then they At the next Child Rights have done everything Club meeting Nene shared together.

“I’m proud of getting this far. I’m only 16 and already I know loads of things. I hope others can feel the same way,” says Nene.

104 her ideas and helped to plan Kulha and Nene are doing work lots of activities. She wrote experience at a car and motor- the minutes with a steady cycle workshop. They’re learn- hand. She had become brave ing to drive motorbikes and cars, and to fix engines. and confident! “My favourite thing is taking the engine apart and putting it Giving advice back together,” says Nene. “It’s The Child Rights Club has a bit like learning how the changed Nene’s life. Students human body works, with all the and teachers alike come to different parts that make the her for advice. When the whole thing work.” principal is away, he usually asks Nene to read out messag­ es to teachers or parents. She visits parents who won’t let doors and encourage people their children go to school to come out and watch. They and makes them change their have asked the Town Crier to minds. At one Child Rights tell everyone what’s about to Club meeting, the group dis­ happen. He walks around cussed the fact that many par­ calling: ents beat their children. Some “Don’t go to the fields “Of course we have to beat children have scars on their today! Gather in the square! our children, otherwise what bodies, others come to school Gather in the square! There will they turn into?” with bruises, and others have are people who want to talk After the performance, to stay home because they to you about the rights of the they talk about the rights of Nene in her photo album, which have been beaten so badly. child! Gather in the square!” the child. is one of her most treasured “It’s just not right. People Lots of people come, proba­ “You have to stop beating possessions. should not beat children,” bly several hundred. children – it isn’t good for says Nene. “What can we do them. Talk to them instead,” children and help people to make them understand?” Don’t beat children says Nene. Nene walks up to understand that children “Maybe we could write Nene yells and beats ‘her one of the noisiest women have rights.” sketches and perform them child’ with a cane. In another and says: “Maybe we can do both!” where there are lots of peo­ sketch, a father uses the mon­ “If you talk to your chil­ says Kulha.  ple,” someone suggests. ey meant for his children’s dren in a normal way, not in a Everyone thinks that’s a great school fees to buy beer. The nasty or angry voice, they idea. audience laugh and comment will listen to you. I promise!” A few weeks later, everyone on what’s happening in the Nene stands close to the has their part to play and the plays. Someone shouts in woman she is talking to. She whole group heads for the agreement. Someone else gets has noticed that people listen town square. They knock on angry and says: better if you do that. The woman stares at Nene in sur­ prise. “Well... I see... maybe I’ll give that a try,” she replies. That evening as they fall asleep, Nene says to Kulha: “Do you know what? I had an idea today. You know we both dreamt of becoming  Nene, 16 Tex doctors and starting a hospi­ t Loves: Sport. : G

tal where poor people can get UNILL help? But now I could imag­ Hates: Fighting.

Favourite foods: Rice and bread. A ine becoming an actress and H Best thing: Getting to move to A making films that encourage E MN Kimmie’s children’s home and p

start school. h OTOs: SE Worst thing: The war, when people Nene and Kulha run hand in killed each other. N

hand. They have been together Role model: Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, A Y B

almost all the time since the day President of Liberia. E Nene arrived at the children’s Wants to be: A doctor or an actress. RH E home.

105 There are 66 children One day at the home living at Kimmie’s YAI chil- dren’s home. Most lost their parents in the civil war. Everyone who lives there helps with cooking, cleaning, for orphans clearing land and tending their crops when they’re not at school. The children’s 4.30 a.m. Wake-up call home is almost self-suffi- “Rise and shine!” shouts Mama cient. The building used to Kumba. “Time to wake up!” be so badly damaged that the rain came in. But thanks to YAI, a new, bigger home has now been built. 5.00 a.m. Morning shower The children’s home has its own well where the children fetch water for everything. The buck- et is heavy when it’s full, but better that than have to make two trips. E RH E 6.00 a.m. Morning Y B Y A

N prayers Everyone joins in

OTOs: SE OTOs: with the traditional h prayer songs. p MN E A H A UNILL : G : t Tex 

7.00 a.m. Time for school All children over 8.00 a.m. Preschool twelve go to When the older children have gone to school, the younger school along the ones have classes at the children’s home. main road towards 2.00 p.m. Lunch Freetown. If it’s It’s foufou for lunch (porridge made raining, the chil- with cassava) served with boiled leaves, dren wait until the similar to spinach. rain stops before 6.30 a.m. Breakfast they walk to Every morning, rice and school. grated meat is served for breakfast. It’s a good mix- ture for growing children.

106 3.00 p.m. Playtime! Once everyone has come home from school, eaten and rested, there is time for games and sports. The younger children are drawing ‘The King’s Daughter’ on the ground. 4.00 p.m. Crops Most of the food that is eaten at the children’s home is grown there. All the children help to sow seeds, remove weeds and harvest the crops.

6.00 p.m. Evening prayers “Dear God, help me to live my life in a good way, and take care of my mother and father in heaven,” pray the children during evening prayers. 7.00 p.m. Homework time It’s dark by seven o’clock. So that the children can do their homework, Mama Kumba switches on the big battery-powered reading lights.

8.00 p.m. Good night prayers and chit chat Before going to sleep, Nene and Kulha take the chance to listen to the radio and chat about the day’s events. Then they pray for protection during their night’s sleep.

9.00 p.m. Lights out! Mama Kumba locks the door and makes sure everyone is quiet.

107 Kimmie talks with the team. Football unites

Prince FC are playing Plumcut Young Professionals and YAI have given both clubs balls, football strips and shoes. They also train the team captains, Prince and Lass. The final score is 2-2 and the players gather to listen to Kimmie Weeks: “If more people learn to cooperate like you guys, this coun- try will go a long way. Football builds peace. We’re going to make sure there is a football team in every neighbourhood, and train more team captains to be role models like Prince and Lass. Many children in this area have suffered because of the war, and have lost parents. They don’t go to school, instead they wander the streets, ending up in criminal gangs or on drugs. We are going to give them back their hope.” Prince won’t give up

“I had this idea that we ‘No Prince, you know we could start playing football can’t afford it,’ she replied seriously here in our neigh­ crossly. bourhood. Even though I But I didn’t give up. I went E RH

E knew we were broke, I asked to my aunt and uncle, who are Y B Y

A my mother if I could buy a older than my mother, and N leather football. I went down asked them to persuade her. on my knees and said: They thought it sounded like OTOs: SE OTOs: h ‘Please mum, can I buy a a good idea, and they came to stick together. You can’t be young people, but Kimmie p football?’ home with me. good without taking training and his staff do. Both Lass MN E

A ‘Prince has been selling seriously, just like school.” and I are YAI volunteers and H A water for years. Surely you mentors for our teams. I want can let him buy a football?’ We stick together to be a good youth leader and UNILL : G :

t said my aunt. “A while ago my mother said: I think I’ve made a good

Tex My mother was annoyed ‘I’m sorry I was so negative start. Parents come to me and

 but she looked at me and said: when you wanted to buy the thank me, because their chil­ ‘OK then, start saving and football. I can see that it has dren have changed since they buy the football.’ been good for you and for started playing with us. That I sold water like never many others. People respect feels good.” before. I rushed home from you. And I do too.’ Prince, 15, Favourite footballer: school, fetched the coolbox Now we stick together in Ronaldo, Portugal full of water and went out our area. I’m the team cap­ onto the streets. It took sever­ tain of Prince FC and I always al weeks to save up enough. say: Then I took the bus into ‘Stick together and don’t What makes town. I rushed to the sports fight. Respect all the others in a good leader? shop, put my money on the the area, even the other counter and got the beautiful teams.’ The team think Prince is a leather ball. I felt like I was Now that we have received good leader because he: walking on air all the way support from YAI I feel like a is generous, helps others, home. My team mates went part of something bigger. We is respectful, gives good crazy when they saw me com­ young people need role mod­ advice, understands their ing home with the football. els. There are not many peo­ situation, is patient. To be a good team you have ple who have time for us

108 Fredrick’s good heart

“My heart beats a bit faster didn’t get anything. Every when I think about football. day I round up the children in It has given me lots of new my neighbourhood who don’t friends. That’s why there are go to school and teach them. fewer fights in our neigh­ Then they don’t feel so bourhood, now that we have excluded. I usually go to their football to focus on. I’m plan­ homes and encourage their ning to be Liberia’s latest parents, saying ‘Let your football star. child go to school. Try to save My heart doesn’t only beat up for the school fees.’ Fredrick warms up in flip-flops, for football, but for other I lent my football boots to a but during the match he bor- people too. Others say I have friend, and when he returned rows shoes from whoever he a good heart and that’s some­ them one sole was falling off. replaces on the pitch. thing I’m proud of. When That’s why I don’t have prop­ someone in our neighbour­ er shoes today, just plastic hood is hungry I share the sandals. But I borrow shoes food we have at home with from someone else when I’m Fredrick always stands up for them. If I get Christmas pre­ playing a match. These things friends and people who are sents I always give some of always work out.” worse off. them away to people who Fredrick, 14

Shy Lass becomes a leader

“I’m the team captain of a whole life. Think of some­ Their comments just made think about how people treat­ football team called Plumcut thing you can do for others.’ me even more motivated. I ed one another. That’s why Young Professionals. I’m At first I didn’t really started to talk to the people I what I do seems important - incredibly proud of our team. understand what she meant. had seen playing football and helping people to unite Next year we’ll be joining But one Saturday afternoon asked them if they wanted to instead of fighting and killing division three, if we can raise when I was standing watch­ join in. one another. Football is a enough money for the fee. ing some boys kick a ball, it I feel like a new person now, good way to get young people That’s why we do cleaning came to me: I’m going to and young people come to me to do something together. work in the neighbourhood start a team! A few people in for advice. Maybe it was the Now that we have equipment every Saturday. my neighbourhood heard war that made me shy. My and support from YAI, it’s For me, being a leader is about my plans. I heard on mother and I slept under going to be even better.” something new. Before I was the grapevine what they were tables at market stalls, or in Isaac Lass, 16 always on my own. One day saying: abandoned shacks. I saw hor­ Favourite footballer: Lukas my mother said: ‘How will Lass manage to rific things and I was terri­ Podolski, Germany ‘Lass, you can’t just go get a football team together? fied. around on your own your He can’t even talk to people.’ It still makes me sad to

Lass doing his team talk.

109