For over 15 years the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo was stricken by war and crisis. Yet a project succeeded there which would have been difficult to realise even in times of peace: CAPA, a vocational and skills training centre undertook a fundamental reform of its training system. Starting off as an inconspicuous institution offering training with minimum impact, it received support from the Church Development Service and evolved into a ? exible, innovative institution now regarded as a model for others.Creating employment in a crisis region poses a particular challenge. Which kind of employment can help reconstruct destroyed livelihoods? How can the trauma of child soldiers be healed and young ex-combatants integrated into society by means of an occupation? Is there a future for young women who were raped during the war? "Guitars, Bricks and Sailors" shows how CAPA's courageous, consistent reform process mastered this challenge despite many obstacles. An honest book that describes not only successes, but also examines obstacles and pitfalls with a frank and critical eye. Plenty of personal stories illustrate the unorthodox paths followed by CAPA and turn reading this book into a voyage of discovery.