Ekoi John

At the age of 11, Ekoi John and his younger brother were abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda. They were tied and beaten and forced to walk over 150 miles to neighbouring Sudan without food. On the journey, John witnessed the killing of his friend who tried to escape. Upon arrival in the bush, he was taught how to use a gun and forced to fight. 

Two years later, John heard a broadcast by Radio WA, a SCIAF funded radio station which encourages child soldiers to return home and reassures them that they will be accepted and protected by their families. Inspired by the broadcast, John bravely escaped to a Ugandan army barracks.

John feared he would never see his mother again but thanks to Radio WA, she was alerted to her son's return. They now live together in a camp for the internally displaced. John is still traumatised by his experiences in the bush but looks forward to a brighter future as he continues with his studies and makes plans to start his own business.

"Radio Wa has done a great thing for me by reuniting me with my mother."

To help others like Ekoi John click here