Voices of Hope

A recent article by ‘Do Something.Org’ states that there are around 10.6 million refugees in the world. About half of the world’s refugees are children.  Of all these children, an estimated 300,000 are child soldiers and currently serving in armies and militias around the world. Some of them are plucked straight from refugee camps. Untold numbers of older, but still vulnerable youths, have also been recruited. Africa has the most number of child refugees in the world. They are not only in need of food and shelter but also emotional support. They need  their voices to be heard and be reunited with their families. Luckily, there is a young leader who has come to their aid. Barauni, a refugee boy from Africa, is working towards helping children who live in refugee camps to expressed their pent-up feelings (KidsRights). Having spent most of  his early years  growing up in a refugee camp, Baruani uses his  life experience to actively help fellow refugee children by providing the means to express their feelings on his radio show.

A refugee camp is a place for displaced people who live in deplorable living conditions. By encouraging fellow refugees to discuss their problems openly, Baruani makes a difference  to their emotional health. From his experiences as a refugee, Baruani has sound  knowledge of the despairing conditions of children who live in refugee camps.  Instead of complaining and losing hope,  he  turns  the experience into a positive one for him 1. Growing up in a refugee camp under impoverished conditions  turns him into  an emotionally strong person with a desire to help fellow child refugees. Consequently, he tries to help these children using radio shows that enable people within the community and around the world  to hear the refugees’ difficulties and challenges and offer help, “His radio show is one of the key ways in which he tries to help his peers.”  For instance, the radio show, called ‘Sisi kwa Sisi’ (Children for Children), airs on Radio Kwizera in Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. With this radio show, other refugee children can express their concerns, and more people will be aware of their needs in the camp.  In fact, this radio show is so successful as it captures the attention of the public who respond to their needs and give moral support by lending a listening ear.  “For many children it is already a big help to talk to someone and to be able to share the problems they experience. ” By providing a platform to express children’s needs, Barauni gives the refugees a kind of therapy, so they are able to resolve their emotional problems.  Although life in a refugee camp can be challenging,  perceiving it positively can reduce  the emotional pain. 
Baruani (ENG)

Living  in the refugee camp for nine years has made Baruani resilient and empathetic towards others who have a similar life.  Not only has Baruani made a radio show, but he has also created a  children’s parliament. In the adult world, parliament is a place for discussing human issues. For this reason, Baruani uses this parliamentary style to create a “voicing tool” for children, and gain publicity which enables more refugees to voice out their problems, and more people can hear about their problems. ( Children Peace Prize)“Baruani also leads a children’s parliament in the camp which is an alternative child voicing out tool.” Furthermore, to give children another voice, Baruani started an alternative to the radio program called ‘ a refugee camp parliament’ where the kids have a voice to speak out in social groups. Additionally, through his radio show, Baruani also aims to help child refugees reunite with their parents. “Through his radio show Baruani contributes to reuniting children with their parents.” Having lost his own parents at a young age, Baruani realizes the importance of family and how important parents are in the lives of children. Adversity in childhood can teach a person to persevere through challenges.

Hardship at an early age can make someone become emotionally strong and sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.  Learning how to survive under dire conditions and overcoming difficulties in life during childhood can motivate a person to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.  Using his own experience growing up in a refugee camp, Baruani is determined to help other refugee children with a similar fate to face their emotional challenges. Through his radio show, Baruani creates an outlet for these children to express their feelings with the hope  that listeners will hear their pleas for help. His tireless efforts are not only well received by the public but also recognized by world leaders. He has dedicated his life to helping refugee children in Africa and is truly a remarkable human being.