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The African country of Uganda is the site of a humanitarian crisis. For
20 years war has been raging between the Ugandan Government and the
Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Today the country's people bear the scars
of war, with 85% of the population living on less than $1 a day (UNICEF
2005).
The LRA builds its army through the abduction of children, who they
use as soldiers, servants and sex slaves. Children are chosen as they
can be more easily programmed to commit the atrocities of war. To test
a child's loyalty and break his spirit, he is often first sent on
missions to kill his own parents and family. Today the Leaders of the
LRA are wanted on war crime charges.
The abduction of children by the LRA has led to the phenomenon
called "night commuting". As many as 50,000 people, 30,000 of these
children, leave their rural homes each night and walk several
kilometers to safe areas where they sleep for the night to avoid being
attacked and kidnapped by the LRA.
Gulu Children's Home and Brian's Story
The situation in Uganda is desperate and fragile, with 1.4 million
people who have lost their homes and are still living in displaced
people's camps. In one camp visited by the FreeToBeKids director, there
were 28,000 people, and 270 child headed homes. On the 26th August
2006, the Ugandan government and the LRA signed a truce aimed at ending
the long-running conflict. There is now hope that safety and security
in the country will improve. As the situation in Uganda improves
FreeToBeKids is going to be a part of rebuilding these children's
lives. FreeToBeKids has begun caring for children in partnership with
Operation Uganda, in the city of Gulu. A 2 acre property with a
dormitory is being managed by Russell & Jenny Barton of Operation
Uganda. In April 2007 the Gulu Children's Home welcomed it's first
residents, orphans from a child headed family. When we met Brian he was
14 and caring for two younger sisters, Brenda 11, Bena 10, and a 5 year
old brother, Joseph. Their parents had died from HIV, which has spread
through the internally displaced peoples camps at a higher rate than in
other parts of Africa. Brian was completely responsible for his own
welfare and that of his siblings, and they were vulnerable to abuse and
abduction. These children were very relieved to find a new safe place
to live in the Gulu Children's Home!
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