All Right

Most of the time when you think of Rwanda the first thing that comes to mind is the genocide, that fateful moment in 1994 when almost a million people were killed in less than 100 days while the world looked on.  While the aftermath of the genocide is still major news for most media outlets considering Rwanda, the real story of everyday life is much more hopeful.  Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is a boom town, with bamboo scaffolding scaling construction on every corner.  Rwanda has the highest percentage of female elected officials in the world, and the country's communication strategy includes laying fiber optic cable right along the brand new energy grid.  Despite being among the world's poorest countries, a spirit of positivity fuels forward motion in Rwanda, and everywhere we went we could feel it.

In the stories of recovery from great trauma. 

In the tales of love found after all hope was lost.

In the platefuls of green bananas served up each night with so much enthusiasm and kindness.

In the backroom at the barbershop where something as normal and everyday as having someone wash your hair on an uneventful Wednesday is proof positive everything really is all right.

Comments

[Tracy]

It is so interesting and encouraging to hear about every day life in Rwanda. I'm so glad the two of you are there to share this with us! Keep up the amazing work.

[camerashymomma]

'all right' is so very good. i'm glad to read these words.

[melody]

I admire the strength of human spirit. I cling to it. So well done, Jen.

[Jan in Washington]

Wonderful information, which presents a different light on Rwanda.. and the positive spirit of the people..l

[Marcie]

Such a wonderful image...and so good to hear about the resiliency of the human spirit and that even after such horror and tragedy...there is hope.

[Katrina Kennedy]

love reading this perspective accompanied by such a great photo

[Misty]

beautiful words, beautiful picture, beautiful people.

[renee @ FIMBY]

I read Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza and it both broke my heart and gave me hope. This photo also gives me hope, especially after reading that book.

[Lu]

Amen.

[Lori]

Thank you for sharing. I enjoy seeing something normal, and positive coming out of Rwanda. When all we see is the death, starvation, an mayhem it's hard to realize that the Rwandans are people just like us.

[Jaana]

the human spirit is a remarkable thing.

[Jessica]

I love the warm tones in this image. They resonate so strongly with the warmth of the message as well.

[Lisa Ceaser]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all find comfort in such small acts on our worst days. Kudos to those in that struggling nation for maintaining hope!

[Trude]

Their expressions are priceless. Talk about a photo being worth a 1,000 words!! Wonderful post.

[Rachel Parton]

Love this pic - beautiful display of what it means to carry on. One of my best friends from college was a survivor of the genocide, and one of our professors was the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda during that time.

[sebrina]

amazing strength!!!!!

[corporate portrait photographers singapore]

what an expression