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Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

Outlook: From child soldier to Franciscan monk

Lurgio Gavilan and comrade at Viaviana military base

14/11/2012

From child soldier to Franciscan monk

BBC World Service - Outlook, From child soldier to Franciscan monk

The former child soldier for the Shining Path rebels who ended up being a Franciscan monk

Respected Peruvian anthropologist Lurgio Gavilan describes his life as a child soldier for the Shining Path rebel group and his journey to becoming a Franciscan monk.  

Also, Derek Amato explains how banging his head on the bottom of a swimming pool meant that he could suddenly play the piano. 

And Matthew meets South African ballerina Clair Symonds who once danced for the Shah of Iran.

Image: Lurgio Gavilan (l) when he was in the Peruvian military, with a colleague and a donkey

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