Paluku

Paluku is a 12-year-old boy who was forcibly recruited into the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after witnessing the brutal murder of his mother during an attack on his village. He spent two harrowing months in the ADF, where he endured severe corporal punishment and was forced to participate in the group's operations, including stealing supplies for leaders. His traumatic experiences highlight the plight of children caught in armed conflicts, and he currently resides at a care center for minors who have escaped from such groups.