When Sean D. Carasso, the founder of Falling Whistles, traveled around Africa, he saw progress and change happening everywhere. That is, until he reached the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where young boys were, and still are, being captured by the rebel army and forced to become child soldiers. Boys not big enough to hold guns are given whistles and put on the front lines. “Their sole duty is to make noise to scare the enemy and then to receive–with their bodies–the first round of bullets. Lines of boys fell as nothing more than a temporary barricade,” explains Sean.

When Sean returned from Africa, a close friend gave him an unusual gift: a whistle to wear around his neck. Everywhere he went people began to ask the story behind it. Soon he realized, “their weapon could be our voice.” Falling Whistles partners with local leaders to rehabilitate women and children, and advocate for those affected by the war. AHAlife is selling three whistles from the Falling Whistle Organization, all manufactured in London with conflict-free materials sourced in Germany. In buying one we hope you, too, will learn and share the story of child soldiers in the Congo.