DR Congo's former child soldiers face tough return to civilian life

DR Congo

A street in the eastern city of Goma in DR Congo. The number of child soldiers in the DRC is hard to estimate, although the tally runs into the thousands. FILE PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA | NMG

Some of the DR Congo's former child soldiers have become traders, hairdressers and tailors, but many struggle to recover a normal life.

Dreams of becoming a farmer or teacher run up against tough conditions in a society deeply afflicted by unemployment and poverty.