Alain's story
All the children that War Child is currently supporting in Gbadolite tell a similar story. They all demobilised with dependents, including a wife and at least one child. They came back to an unwelcoming environment and found it impossible to fend for themselves. Inevitably, many turned to crime, exacerbating their isolation. Alain is a bright youngster, full of energy and ambition but with little opportunity to meet them.
Soon after War Child started working with him in the planning and preparation stages of his project, he was arrested for having stolen some mattresses in town and imprisoned for the best part of two weeks. Conditions were appalling and he was barely fed. War Child visited him regularly during those two weeks and continued to plan with him what project he would establish when he was released. In collaboration with the UN force in DRC, War Child exerted pressure on the authorities to have him released.
Alain has now bought himself a bike and licensed himself to work as a "tolekiste", taxi-bikes that provide the only means of transport in and around Gbadolite. He had barely any source of income prior to this and it was a constant anxiety trying to find enough to feed his young family. That concern is now relieved as he now has a regular source of income that he can count on to support them.