Youngsters raise more than R50k for former child soldier

TALI FEINBERG

Joffe and Dirks met Mrisho in Green Point, Cape Town, and were astounded by his story of being a child soldier, escaping through the jungle, then finding his way to and surviving in South Africa. So, taken by his story were they, that they decided to help Mrisho get back on his feet, and have raised more than R57 000 since 19 February.

Mrisho was a child soldier in Burundi, witnessing horrific crimes before escaping through the jungle. He eventually made his way to South Africa, where he has been living in limbo ever since.

“He walked up to us, and asked us to help him read something, which were Home Affairs papers,” said Joffe, who is 21 and studying Business Science at the University of Cape Town.

“We got talking, and he said he was trying to apply for permanent residency. We gave him the money we had on us, about R40, and he started tearing up [crying]. We continued speaking, and he said we should go look at something called “The Sound of Africa” on SoundCloud which was about him being a child soldier. We found the link, and heard a Daily Maverick reporter asking him about his past.”

Joffe said that though there was no proof that Mrisho’s story was true, “When he started speaking about his childhood, his sincerity seemed real. We’ve made a connection with him, and his sincerity rings true to us.

“The interview he did four years ago gives his story weight, and he gave almost the exact same answers when we asked similar questions. I don’t think someone could go into such detail, with such emotion, without it being real. You can’t fake a story like that,” said Dirks, who is 21, and studying a BCom in Strategic Management at Varsity College in Cape Town.

Rubin, who is 23, a photographer and documentary filmmaker, and has more than 22 000 followers on Instagram, says that Joffe and Dirks suggested he record Mrisho’s story. “As soon as I met him, I felt for the guy. He has had such a difficult life, and it’s incredible how he’s come out of it. We felt we had to do something about it.”

Joffe and Dirks set up a BackaBuddy crowdfunding page with the initial aim of raising R5 000 to help Mrisho to study. Somehow, he had got his matric, and had started studying Psychology through the University of South Africa, but was forced to drop out due to a lack of funds.

Meanwhile, Rubin interviewed him, turning it into a short film that was put up on YouTube. We see Mrisho, who does not know his own age, telling his story of how he had a happy childhood before his mother, uncle, and brother were killed in the Burundi civil war that began in 1993 and ended in 2005. He had no other family to turn to, and followed a group that walked all the way to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the refugee camp, he was taken by the Burundian military that conscripted children between the ages of seven and 16.

Mrisho was too young to carry a gun and fight, so he was forced to be a runner and supplier to the front lines. “I saw them molest, beat, and kill young boys. Little boys were raped,” he said in the interview. When fellow child soldiers tried to escape, younger boys were forced to shoot them.

Mrisho himself eventually escaped, but that was only the beginning. In the jungle of the Congo Basin, he saw one friend get killed by a crocodile, and the other maimed by a leopard. “Our greatest wish was to die first, and not be left alone,” Mrisho told Rubin.

He and one other child eventually got to South Africa with the assistance of Doctors without Borders. He has been in limbo for many years as he has struggled to find any sustainable work due to the fact that he isn’t a permanent resident. Potential employers have turned him away and not given him the chance to tell his story. At times, he has worked as an electrician or plumber – trades he taught himself.

Rubin knew a powerful story when he saw one, and suggested raising the BackaBuddy target to R40 000. The result was astounding: The amount was raised in just four days. The campaign continues, and currently has R57 425.56 in the coffers.

Rubin said that once the funds were released by BackaBuddy, they would be put into a bank account that belongs to Mrisho. However Rubin, Joffe, and Dirks would monitor it, and a set amount would be released every month as decided by themselves and Mrisho to cover his studies and basic needs, and help him gain residency.

“Mdalaga was very excited when we decided to help him, but he didn’t think we would help as much as we have,” said Rubin. “When we revealed the amount we raised, he was in shock.”

They also didn’t expect such a tide of generosity, but “people have been contributing from all over the world, and messaging me non-stop asking how they can help”, said Rubin. He feels it’s important to lead by example: “People often say ‘Because you did this, I am able to do it as well.’ Rather than telling them to do something, show them. Especially living in South Africa, I think we need to look outwards more, and if you are in a position to help others, do it. If not, help where you can.”

Said Dirks, “We’re so desensitised to hearing people’s stories, but this is clearly someone who’s been let down by the world ten times over.” His upbringing, outlook, and Jewish identity have all had an impact on his choice to help Mrisho.

“Having gone to Herzlia, and being involved in the community has definitely played a role. After seeing a lot of tzedakah [charity] by members of the community, I think that being able to give to others is a pillar of wealth. Treat everyone you meet with kindness, for every person is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

To contribute, visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/mdalada-mrisho

To see Josh Rubin’s short film on Mdalaga Mrisho, visit https://youtu.be/3D-LTTnRO4w