Children of War on Mission of Peace

Nine young people from Children of War, a youth leadership group with chapters in 15 U.S. cities, visited John Muir High School in Pasadena Monday and Tuesday. They were among 48 youths from war-torn countries, refugee communities and U.S. inner cities who are touring the country to tell their stories.

The tour, which began March 17 and ends today, includes youths from Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Israel, South Africa and Cambodia. In all, 15 Children of War representatives are visiting the Los Angeles area. Pasadena is the only San Gabriel Valley stop on their tour. Other young people from the organization are speaking in Boston and New York.

“It makes me feel proud I have the freedom I have,” remarked Muir ninth-grader Herbie Judware, after hearing 14-year-old Margaret Leosevich of Chernobyl, Byelorussia, talk about the nuclear accident and government restrictions in the Soviet Union.

Children of War was created in 1984 by the New York-based interfaith Religious Task Force. Its members are between the ages of 15 and 22. The nonprofit group paid round-trip travel expenses for the 20 young people who traveled to America for the speaking tour, and is picking up tour-related expenses for the 28 others. The youths receive no compensation, but Children of War organizers say their programs give the young people “incredible leadership training.”

“Everyone is scared out of their wits at the growth of drug and gang problems, and the general despair and alienation of our young people,” said the Rev. Paul Mayer, the task force’s director, in explaining why the program is welcomed in schools and communities. Children of War will be following up on the tour with leadership training workshops at each of the sites visited.