Child Soldiers of Northern Uganda
CHILD SOLDIERS is an exhibition showcasing drawings created by former child soldiers from Northern Uganda during psychosocial recovery courses coordinated by AVSI, which has been active in the country for over 20 years with projects supporting war-affected populations.
Around the world, more than 300,000 children are forcibly recruited into armies, violently compelled to take up arms that are sometimes taller than they are.
Drawing is one of the first tools used to help these children express their trauma, as well as their desires and hopes for peace. Through this technique, educators can view the children’s lives through their eyes, uncovering the indescribable tragedy of their experiences in a world that failed to protect them. Yet, beyond the sorrow, these drawings also reveal the children’s courage, optimism, and their desire to return to a normal life. Because they can. Because, with the help of caring adults, they can succeed.
The exhibition is divided into three sections:
Drawings of the Past: These depict the atrocities the children endured and the horror of witnessing war.
Drawings of the Present: These illustrate the children’s current lives, focusing on salvation and survival after escaping their circumstances.
Drawings of the Future: These portray the children’s dreams, centered on simple aspirations like family, school, home, play, and work. The images exude peace, love, and hope despite the unimaginable suffering they have endured.
