This highly produced, compelling interview with Professor Michael Wessells of Columbia University's program on Forced Migration and Health takes us beyond the news coverage of war.  He discusses the challenges, and victories, for adults, teens and children in conflict zones, especially West Africa and Sierra Leone.  He challenges common perceptions on how teens and child soldiers differ in the way they are affected, and their reactions, how reparation programs trading in guns can inadvertently lead to horrendous human rights violations for girls and women, and how victims show great strength and resilience, experiencing the most stress, in fact, as refugee immigrants adopting to new cultures. 

This highly produced, compelling interview with Professor Michael Wessells of Columbia University's program on Forced Migration and Health takes us beyond the news coverage of war.  He discusses the challenges, and victories, for adults, teens and children in conflict zones, especially West Africa and Sierra Leone.  He challenges common perceptions on how teens and child soldiers differ in the way they are affected, and their reactions, how reparation programs trading in guns can inadvertently lead to horrendous human rights violations for girls and women, and how victims show great strength and resilience, experiencing the most stress, in fact, as refugee immigrants adopting to new cultures.