For much of the last 20 years , the Democratic Republic of Congo has been mired in armed conflict . And it ’ s often been children doing the fighting . Thousands have been recruited as child soldiers over the years -- an issue the United Nations called “ endemic ” in 2013 . Balezi Bagunda wants to show them another way . " The recruiters promise you money , women and lasting gratitude , ” he told photographer William Dupuy . “ But the only thing you find in the forest is death , hunger and hell . I know ; I experienced it . " Bagunda , a former child soldier , became the country ’ s boxing champion in 2008 . Now he and other ex - soldiers teach the sport to street children in Goma .