Rebuilding Shattered Lives for Children in East African Warzones

Nov 22

5 min read

By Sam Childers, Machine Gun Preacher

I know a little something about shattered lives. When I was at my worst in terms of drug addiction and violence, I didn’t even know my own life had been shattered.

But I wasn’t beyond redemption. For thousands of innocent children we’ve rescued from East African warzones, whose own lives were shattered not by choice, the Lord’s mercy is even better deserved.

For over 25 years, I’ve witnessed the devastation that warlords and their brainwashed rebels militias bring to East African families. I’ve seen firsthand how these brutal forces target communities, tearing families apart and leaving children to fend for themselves in an unforgiving world.

AND WORSE!

The children who survive these attacks face unimaginable traumas, often losing not just their homes but their entire support systems. Growing up in one of the most impoverished and undeveloped areas in the world, their chances for a fruitful life weren’t that great to begin with.

These are the children Angels of East Africa fights to rescue, protect and give a second chance at life beyond the pain.

The Warlords’ Strategy: Divide & Destroy

Divide and destroy. Divide and conquer. It’s a military strategy. It’s a recipe for destruction.

The only thing left for us to consider – a question I’ve asked myself for decades – is WHY? Turns out, there’s no reason behind Satan’s madness. While fighting these warlords, I’ve looked into their eyes and found only evil.

It’s evil for the sake of evil.

They use a ruthless strategy to weaken communities: break the family bond. By targeting the heads of households, these groups strip children of their protectors, creating a generation left without parents, siblings or any semblance of stability. Families are the first line of defense for these children. Without them, they become vulnerable targets for recruitment, exploitation and abuse.

It’s been common for entire East African villages to be destroyed in a single night. Adults are often killed or taken as prisoners. This leaves children as unprotected, traumatized witnesses to unimaginable violence. When the dust settles, the only thing left behind are shattered homes and the broken souls of young children forced to survive alone.

In the worst-case scenarios, children themselves are abducted and forced into becoming soldiers or sex slaves. We’ll never stop telling these stories to open hearts and minds to the fact that true evil still exists in this world.

The Impact on Children Left Behind

For many of these children, survival becomes a daily battle. Here are some of the realities they face:

1. Orphaned & Alone

In the aftermath, many children find themselves orphaned – without a single family member to turn to. This isolation is crushing in a society where family and community mean everything. These are the ones who were fortunate enough not to be captured and forced to fight alongside rebel militias or subjected to sexual slavery.

Orphaned children are often forced to live on the streets, scavenging for food, shelter and some sense of security. Some may be lucky enough to find refuge with distant relatives or friends, but more often than not, they are left to fight for survival (while other kids their age are safe at home playing with dolls).

2. Separated & Desperate

Kids separated from their families during attacks watch in horror as their parents are killed or be driven away to escape with only the clothes on their backs. (Some children have even been forced to kill their parents themselves – or be killed!)

Those who are left behind or lucky enough to escape are left wandering, desperately searching for any familiar face. The separation from family can be just as traumatic as losing them outright, leaving a lasting sense of loss, grief and confusion.

3. Forced into Survival Mode

With no support system these children enter a brutal survival mode, often joining other children in dangerous makeshift camps or seeking work in nearby towns. Some are forced to beg or even turn to petty crime just to eat, while others fall prey to human traffickers or stolen away by the same warlords who tore their families apart.

These children are forced to grow up quickly, but they are robbed of the chance to experience a true childhood.

Why Conflict-Driven Family Separation Matters

The trauma of losing a family impacts children in every conceivable way. These children face many psychological, emotional and physical challenges, which almost always leads to lasting damage if not addressed. Today, we’re looking at more than an entire generation affected, causing the social fabric to fray and damage to continue rippling outward.

Children who grow up without family also lose access to cultural traditions, stories and knowledge. Survival isn’t just about food and shelter but about finding a reason to keep moving forward.

Angels of East Africa: Rebuilding Hope & Family

At Angels of East Africa, we aim to give these children a chance to reclaim some of what was so frightfully stolen away. It takes a village to raise a child, and our orphanages across Sudan and Uganda have become that village for hundreds of children across East Africa.

Here’s how we are helping to heal broken families and provide a path forward for vulnerable children:

1. Creating a New Family Environment

Nothing can truly replace a child’s biological family. However, Angels of East Africa creates a community where children can experience love, stability and security. Our orphanages are not just shelters, but are designed to function as homes, where every child feels valued and understood.

They live in a structured environment, go to school, and share meals together — experiencing the warmth and guidance of caregivers who genuinely care about them.

2. Psychological Support & Trauma Healing

Children who’ve been through the trauma of losing their family need more than just a roof over their heads. They need to heal from the inside out. We provide access to trained counselors and social workers who offer one-on-one and group therapy sessions to help these children process their grief and build resilience. We offer a safe space where they can talk about their pain, begin to understand it and eventually let go of some of it.

3. Education & Life Skills Training

Education is the ultimate form of empowerment. Angels of East Africa prioritizes giving each child a quality education for a brighter future. In addition to academic education, we provide life skills training, teaching these young people how to take care of themselves and navigate the world around them.

For teenagers and young adults, we offer vocational training, preparing them to find jobs and contribute to society. We must equip them with the skills and self-confidence they need to break free from the cycle of poverty and violence that claimed their families.

4. Reunification Efforts

Unfortunately, this isn’t possible nearly as often as we’d like it to be. Angels of East Africa works to reunite children with extended family members, if they can be found. We attempt to trace distant relatives and assess whether the environment is safe for a child’s return.

When reunification is feasible, we support the family unit and help the child transition back into a loving home environment. If reunification is not possible, we ensure that every child knows they have a place within our community and that Angels of East Africa is their home for as long as they need it.