I recently received a very moving email from “Roger,” a member of the Children’s Parliament based in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. I met Roger last summer when I traveled to eastern Congo and had the distinct opportunity to see the Children’s Parliament in action. The Children’s Parliament, comprised of children all under the age of 18, some of whom are former child soldiers, serves as a link between children and adults in Congo. These children advocate for the rights of children and for peace with a determination and maturity that blew me away. They represent a hopeful future for Congo.
Below is a poem that Roger wrote for the Enough Project that I wanted to share with our readers.
Hello DR Congo, Hello Enough
You are sorry for our catastrophic situations
You know a lot about the ongoing problems
War has become the normal reality of our lives
The coups are almost daily occurrences,
Numerous, like the rising and setting of the sun,
The hunger comes like the meal of the morning,
The sickness is like the midday meal,
Death is the evening meal.