Today I ventured out to Buduburam, the Liberian Refugee Camp just beyond the traffic of Accra. This experience was just what I have been searching for over the past 3 weeks here in Ghana. It has given me purpose as a journalist. The extent of government corruption paired with the vibrant spirit of the refugees is wrenching to say the least. Having barely disembarked the cab, I met Houston, an outgoing and enduring personality whose parents were killed at the age of 16, as he was conscripted as a child soldier into the INPFL, a rebel army, during Liberia's civil war. He escaped and walked from Monrovia to the Ivory Coast and then to Buduburam, where he has been living for the past 19 years. Within the camp, he has been teaching as a volunteer for the past 9 years. On the 25th of June, Houston started VECSAOL After School Children's Program, run by a group of former child soldiers. We met many of his pupils in the quaint school house he fondly calls his "office." This Friday, we will return to the camp for "fun day," where the students of all ages come together for singing, drumming, dancing, and sports. I look forward to learning more of Houston's story, getting to know the kids, and investigating some of the shocking realities which he described in the camp.
No comments:
Post a Comment