Joseph is one of almost 20,000 children forced to fight on the frontlines of South Sudan's brutal, and long-running, civil war. While some captured children are expected to cook, clean and tend to animals, others are expected to fight and kill.
"If I stayed at home I would have been killed," Joseph says.
He still carries scars of being forced on the frontline. Joseph has shot, and been shot at. And while he survived, one of his close friends was killed in a gun fight with another group.
"The soldiers made me carry my friend's body and bury it," he says, "that was my worst memory."
Every year UNICEF negotiates the release of child soldiers around the world - Joseph, being one of these children. However there are still around 19,000 children hidden away amongst South Sudan's thick bush and impenetrable swamps.
They are threatened with violence, death, or retribution against their families if they dare to disobey. For many of these children, their experiences will never leave them.
UNICEF is working relentlessly to ensure no child is used as a weapon of war. But we need your support to save and protect children.
Please add your name to raise awareness of this horrific crisis and help support vulnerable children.
