Breaking Chains: A Former Child Soldier’s Story of Resilience and Service
Breaking Chains: A Former Child Soldier’s Story of Resilience and Service
Born and raised in a remote village in Sierra Leone, Paul’s early life was defined by relentless hardship, growing up in extreme poverty with no access to basic necessities like clean water, electricity, or schools. At the age of 16, during the Sierra Leone Civil War, Paul was abducted and forced to become a child soldier. He eventually escaped but was homeless and survived on the streets by begging and working as a porter in local markets.
Paul’s fortune shifted when an American missionary recognized his passion for education and supported him through high school and university. Against extraordinary odds, he became the first in his family to graduate with a university degree followed by two master’s degrees from Nigeria and France and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Now based in Edmonton, Paul mentors African immigrant youth, offering academic support, career guidance, and motivational sessions. He recently founded the Harmony Habitat Foundation; a nonprofit seeking to bridge cultural divides and empower immigrant communities to engage in environmental sustainability and to create a shared sense of responsibility for the province's natural resources and ecosystems.
Paul’s story is a testament to the unyielding resilience of the human spirit and the profound transformations made possible through education and compassion. It mirrors Rotary’s unwavering mission: to uplift communities, foster leadership, and build bridges of understanding through meaningful services and actions.