My first experience in Rwanda was a volunteer photography assignment for the Maranyundo School in the small town of Nyamata. I knew the area had been devastated by the 1994 genocide, but when I arrived I learned that the school had been built on the grounds of a former Tutsi concentration camp. These days the secondary boarding school is home to 180 7th - 9th graders, all determined to become a generation of strength and courage. I am happy to report they are.

During our gorilla trek, we came across Group 13, a family of gorillas. Here is a picture I snapped of the silverback who weighs close to 800 lbs. He was taking a nap. We thanked our lucky stars.

Took a day hiking trip in Nyungwe Park. It was a wonderful time, if it weren't for those wild ants in my pants! Otherwise, what a beautiful place to hike. The lush tea fields were an especially wonderful surprise at the end of the hike.

With the exception of the small children, two other adults and me, all of these young adults are genocide survivors. We had a wonderful time in the park, laughing, loving, hugging, and crying.

It's a hard walk through dense jungle with dangers ranging from malaria stricken Mosquitos to wild forest elephants...but it's worth it. The first glimpse of the critically endangered mountain gorilla is overwhelming....their mannerisms, facial expressions and behaviours are astoundingly familiar...in a beautiful and eerie way. You only get to spend an hour...but it's an hour that will change your life...

In Rwanda, the cheapest transportation option is the "bike taxi." You pay just a few hundred Rwandan shillings and you can get a bike taxi up hills, down hills.. wherever your heart desires to go, really. Big men like James, my friend here in the red striped shirt, has to jump off when going uphill and walk/run alongside the bike since the "driver" is unable to pull both his and another grown mans weight up certain hills. It was one of the most interesting and scary (when going downhill) things I did in Rwanda.

I have to dedicate this photo to the close to 1 million Rwandese who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide. This is one such man. His name is Emmanuel. He lost his wife, five children, and many other members in his family. He was one survivor of four at Murambi Technical School. This particular site had 50,000 victims. He currently gives tours at Murambi... he is quite the extraordinary man.

In Rwanda, you can find anything for sale on the street. While on a bus ride out of the city, these two strapping young fellows approached our bus with some hard boiled eggs and salt, a staple snack in Rwanda. Just trying to make a living...

I traveled to Kigali Rwanda in June of 2011 with two other women. Our purpose was to meetup with a woman there who had established an NGO, Generations Impact, which focuses on genocide survivors living in Kinyinya Village. I met some of the most incredible young people who were mere youths and babies in 1994. The experience brought much love, joy, and the overwhelming desire to contribute to their well being. We have supported many of them in their education and day-to-day living. I look forward to returning to the Land of 1000 Hills!

This photo highlights the poverty that exists throughout much of Rwanda, and Africa in general. These mud huts, and children running around barefoot with tattered clothes, are the norm. I was fortunate enough to be able to capture this photo, but what ever happened to this little girl... I wonder.

Zebra herd during a safari in Akagera. The zebras were perhaps the highlight of the safari. Akagera boasts of just a few wild herds, no top predators, though. But definitely worth spending the $100.00 total for a safari while in Rwanda.