annedegraaf.com

International—Intrigue—Injustice

They prefer to be called ex-combatants. Peace after 14 years of civil war.

Dutch publisher Jongbloed sent Anne de Graaf to Liberia just after the first free elections ever to be held in Liberia.

 

She interviewed ex-combatants, flew in UN military planes, traveled inland, visited with trauma counselors, spoke with UN soldiers, Liberian teachers, and education experts.

 

The lack of electricity and running water, extreme heat and humidity, and ethnic tensions made it an adventure.

 

She is very grateful to ZOA Refugee Care for sponsoring her.

 

More than 15,000 UN soldiers from 100 countries maintain this fragile peace. People treat them as the heroes they are.

 

The results of this trip can be read in her book for teenagers, now published in Dutch as of 1 September 2006.