One example of a group of boys who joined a militia were from ages six to sixteen and were abducted by RENAMO. They were with the group from two months to three years. While with the group, the boys were socialized not to show emotion, and those who did were killed. They eventually worked their way up to killing unarmed human beings. Other children could be used in other ways and still be considered child soldiers - they could be used as a spy, scout, cook, messenger, porter or even a sex slave.
The children are not always abducted. They may "voluntarily" join, but only because they have no other choice. One child describes his reasons for joining the army, “There was no way out. If I left the village I would get killed by the rebels who would think that I was a spy. On the other hand, if I stayed in the village and refused to join the army, I wouldn’t be given food and would eventually be thrown out, which was as good as being dead."
The children are not always abducted. They may "voluntarily" join, but only because they have no other choice. One child describes his reasons for joining the army, “There was no way out. If I left the village I would get killed by the rebels who would think that I was a spy. On the other hand, if I stayed in the village and refused to join the army, I wouldn’t be given food and would eventually be thrown out, which was as good as being dead."