COURAGE

Having survived two civil wars in both my maternal and paternal homelands in West Africa in the space of a decade  and being held captive by rebel forces in one of those wars. I was used as human shield for almost two years and during this time I was trained as a child soldier, towards the end of my captivity. 

I was a girl in war zone who constantly had to negotiate the day I would lose my virginity. With boldness, and the mindset of being raised to fight for what was mine, I would firmly negotiate my virginity with my captors. I believed, and still believe, my femininity is mine. I had the opportunity to do this because my captors chose to place more value on me, than was awarded other captives; yet I was still a captive.

Eventually I was rescued and bought home by a Kamajor (Mende for hunter) - a group of Mende farmers/hunters from the Mende region - southern Sierra Leone, who had grown fed-up of their daughters and wives being demoralised, their villages invaded and set ablaze and their sons turned  into killers as they captured and trained then as rebels. 

I was granted refugee status by the New Zealand government through the United Nations refugee resettlement  program.  

I’ve written about my experience to help with my PTSD. However,  I published my story because I was encouraged to share my courage and faith with others. 

As humans we have a strength which often can only be harnessed by tapping into our innermost self and believing that we deserve better than whatever undesirable situation we may find ourselves in. 

I published my book to also share my willpower in demonstrating that we are not the hard times that befall us along our journey through life's  path. To show that with willpower, faith and humility we can turn our undesirable situations around. To give the vulnerable women, girls and boys of society a voice and to shed an insider's view on both the Liberia and especially Sierra Leone wars. 

Memuna.