As part of its mission in Rwanda, the Indego Africa team sought to capture the essence of the country and its people.   Through imagery and film, it is easier to tell the story of life in Rwanda: both the difficult past and the bright future.  All of these videos were captured between August 9-21, 2007 and represent just a sampling of the film that we put together from the trip.  Indego Africa is hoping to publish a DVD of the entire trip, including interviews with women working in our partner cooperatives and scenes of everyday life.  In the meantime, please visit our YouTube channel for a collection of our digital videos uploaded to date (www.youtube.com/indegoafrica). 

MEMORIAL CHURCH AT NYAMATA

This church in Nyamata, Bugesera District, had been the site of a horrendous mass slaughter in 1994.  The estimates are that 10,000 people may have perished at this site, the victims of the interehamwe genocidal militia.  The feelings at such a place are indescribable and this memorial is like no other genocide monument in Rwanda or the world.  The site is still raw and exposed, the bones and skulls open for all to see.  It was a horrifying experience, but one which cast ordinary Rwandans as heroic figures.  The hope and strength they demonstrated on a daily basis, in light of their very difficult history, was astounding.

GENOCIDE WIDOWS AT BUGESERA

This group of about 75 widows gather at this facility in Bugesera to socialize and pursue commerce of any type that is available to them.  Many of them have been re-settled here after 1994.  Nearly all of them lost at least one member of their family in the genocide.  The Indego Africa team was fortunate to have been treated to a song and dance of greeting from the widows.

THE CHILDREN OF RWANDA

All along the trip we met young kids who were eager for attention, particularly if there was a camera around.  As you can see from these videos, it didn't take much to relieve them of their shyness.

ZION TEMPLE CHURCH: "AMAZING GRACE"

The Indego Africa team sought to capture inspirational stories as well as those of struggle.  Few places were more inspirational than the lively service that the team attended at Zion Temple Church in Kigali.  The Indego Africa team was introduced to and welcomed by the congregation, an intimidating experience when you look out at the gathering of approximately 3000 people.  In this video, Indego Africa volunteer Byron Townsend, a mission & music pastor at Cross Point Church in Baton Rouge, performs a rousing interpretation of the old standard "Amazing Grace" to the congregation.  It was one of the memorable moments on the trip.