I am posting this message here as the power of Flickr is a proven, tremendous social-networking tool to creatively collaborate and cross-support missions both in the field and at home. I will be returning to Rwanda and Uganda August - September this year (2011). Please get in touch with me if you or someone you know might like to collaborate--I photograph and write and help bring awareness, raise funds and pool resources for good work being done by good people for good people.
--Kresta King

You can contact me here: www.krestakingphotography.com/contact.html
_________________________________________________________
Support Pearl Children Care Center
Nikonge Bossa of Jinja, Uganda, Africa:http://www.pearlchildren.org/
Dvora Rotenberg of Ottowa, Canada: new.pearlchildren.ca/

Pearl Children Care Center and Canadian Friends of Pearl Children Care Center are on Facebook.

Support Gismba Memorial Center. Buy the book!: www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/559906

www.krestakingphotography.com/

Leon
My little friend Leon lives at Gisimba Memorial Center on the outskirts of Kigali. Leon is 8, and I've never met a more exuberant child. Although Leon is deaf, he has no trouble understanding his world, a world he looks at with imeasurable fascination. Of all the children at Gisimba, Leon stands out. His smile, warmth, and eagerness is endless, and his delight in the small things is a gift to witness. Whenever I visited the orphanage, Leon would spot me from afar, run towards me until we crashed into each other, the greeting hug only a sign of what was to come. Thereafter, Leon and I were inseparable. And even though I know he appreciated seeing me, it was the camera he was most excited about. Leon couldn't get enough of the camera,
and seeing him with it made me realize just how important an opportunity it was. Leon is a natural artist, his inventive ways of seeing the world perhaps sharpened by his hearing loss. I look forward to returning to Rwanda and bringing Leon his own camera.

Gisimba Memorial Center
Kigali, Rwanda. Central Africa.
August 2006.
Taken by a young photographer.

If you are interested in sponsoring an orphan at Gisimba Memorial Center, direct contact information is listed below. (Thanks to Chrissie Lam of Create for a Cause.)
Ildephonse Niyongana - Director
Damas Gisimba - Founder
gisimbacmg@yahoo.com
Gisimba Orphanage
B.P. 1433 Kigali Rwanda

Ave de la Nyarugenge
Nyamirambo
District of Nyarugenge
tel +250 08524515 or +250 08532596

Bank of Kigali 040-0013914-76
swift BK IG RWRW

Additional information can also be found on www.orphansofrwanda.org

Please contact me if you are interested in using my photographs. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2005, 2006 Kresta K.C. Venning.

Please find my Gisimba Memorial Group on Facebook if you are interested in supporting the orphanage. Thank you so much!

Mother with Child Mother with Child Portraits from Rwanda By Kresta K.C. Venning
Twelve years after the 1994 genocide, a fellowship of mothers are at the crossroads of their lives. Black and white portraits. 66 pages. In support of KEZA and The Burunga Women's Cooperative: www.keza.com/index.php?id=16

I also support:
www.snapfoundation.org/
umuziphotoclub.blogspot.com/
www.keza.com/index.php?id=16
africamissionalliance.org/
pearlchildren.org/
new.pearlchildren.ca/
www.orphansofrwanda.org
www.dobbynfoundation.org/
www.artfullyunforgotten.com/

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Testimonials (11)

  • view profile

    Mexicanwave says:

    "Kresta is a digital storyteller. The best. She connects with the people in her photographs and her images almost read their thoughts. If in doubt, just look at the eyes."

    29th November, 2006

  • view profile

    Paulgi says:

    "Luckly i found your work, about one year ago, during my first weeks on flickr. Since then, I've been watching your extraordinary stream growing better and stronger everyday. On flickr today, where so many people sees photography only as an "aesthetic decoration product", it's a pleasure to keep finding you still communicating with light."

    25th September, 2006

  • view profile

    Daniel Nobre says:

    "This girl and her pictures are amazing and we must respect and admire them. This work is fantastic and has somekind of intensity and heart that makes us think about what really matters in life...The eyes of these children can tell a hundred of stories...."

    16th August, 2006

  • view profile

    eurotrash67 says:

    "Every photo she takes conveys an amazing amount of information. She manages to caputure everything beautiful, happy and sad in the eyes of these fantastic children. I wish that I had one-tenth of the fortitude that she obviously has to work on this. I am grateful to camera_rwanda for reminding me on a daily basis what the bigger picture is. Thanks!"

    8th August, 2006

  • view profile

    irdtmettupalayam says:

    "Revisiting Camera-rwanda again!...and still I feel deeply moved by the photography, the situation, the people and their spirit ...completely inspirational."

    23rd April, 2006

  • view profile

    rumnting says:

    "Your work continues to inspire me. I was on a road trip with some friends the other day, doing my best to describe your photography, and that is when I realized the impact your work is having on total strangers. The word that describes your photography is UNFORGETTABLE."

    14th March, 2006

  • view profile

    * rel. says:

    "camera_rwanda is not just a quick stop on flickr to the next photographer, but it is a journey you must take. through kresta king cutcher's eyes, you will be reminded that humanity and compassion are a universal necessity. that belonging can be bridged with an open and caring hand. that friendships can be forged with a smile and a camera. and that truth and love can set one free. i applaud kresta's brave quest and thank her for sharing her life with us via a viewfinder, one click at a time."

    7th February, 2006

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    Gypsy Flores Photography says:

    "Camera-rwanda is a woman with an extraordinary gift. The gift of compassion. Of course she is an extraordinarily talented photographer; but more than that she is a woman with the eye to reveal to us the beauty in the world and the courage to show us the way to help create more."

    16th January, 2006

  • view profile

    Thzami Gamour Rinpoche says:

    "Syrion Koan

    Underground Nite.
    Make it a Mandala.
    You can do it,
    when the Rainbow Sutra it.
    Good 2 the last Haiku.
    Time 2 make da Koan,
    my darling Kresta"

    13th November, 2005

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    kowchas says:

    "Kresta is someone who walks the walk. I am better for seeing her photos.
    She is a jewel!"

    29th October, 2005

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    ecolonews says:

    "Here is the text we add to our site when we see the photos of camera_rwanda and the beautiful and important things she is doing :

    "Chaque jour, partout, ici et ailleurs, des gens font le maximum pour influer sur un changement social. On les voit peu car la presse en parle peu. Ecolonews.info a décidé de suivre celles et ceux qui nous font partager leurs photos.

    Camera_rwanda fait partie de ces gens qui aiment les gens qui aiment les gens..."

    It means (roughly) :

    "Every day, everywhere, here and overthere, there are people who do all their best for social change. We can't see them because mainstream rarely talk about them. Ecolonews.info decides to follow those who share their photos.

    Camera_rwanda is one of the people who love people who love people..."

    ecolonews.info est a french news and open publishing site about social an environmental ecology."

    16th October, 2005

Name:
Kresta King
Joined:
October 2005
Currently:
England
I am:
Female and Taken
Website:
kresta king photography