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

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 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/
www.orphansofrwanda.org
www.dobbynfoundation.org/
www.artfullyunforgotten.com/
Publications
ActNow
addmagazine
Africa News
Afrikas Kvinder
Alberta Distance Learning Centre
Andrea Corr
Artists for Amputees
Artists: Lopi LaRoe, Carla Stey
Arup
Bikini Films
Building Unity Through Diversity
CARE (Netherlands)
Centrepiece (The Magazine of The Centre for Economic
Performance, London)
Chapman University
Columbia University’s Earth Institute
Comisio Catalana d’Ajuda al Refugiat (CEAR)
Ecolonews
Equilife
FASCO
Fern Universitaet
Flickr for Good Blog
Fundacion Carolina
Gisimba Memorial Center
Global Action--Women of Global Action (WOGA)
Hayim Aherim ("Alternative Life")
Hofplein Theatre Rotterdam
Imperial College of London
International Children's Aid Network (ICAN)
International Diabetes Fund
Latvian Refugee Council
Les Humains Associes
Living Faith Ministries
Mexican Wave
National Public Radio ("On the Media")
New America Media
Opportunity International
Orphans of Rwanda
Pearl Children Care Center
Philter, Inc.
Pohdiskeleva Liftari
Queen's Quarterly
Rotary International
Suas Educational Services
Teaching Ideas and Resources (TES)
The Book of Hope
The Daily Shooter
The Dobbyn Foundation
The Harvard International Review
The International Rescue Committee
The Isis (Oxford)
The Lonely Planet
The United Nations
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The University of Amsterdam
The University of London
UNICEF
United Children of the World
Verity: The International Magazine
Williams College
Writings on the Wall
Youth for Poverty
camera_rwanda's favorite photos from other Flickr members (22)
Contacts (796)
-
daveblume
No real name given
-
Bob Willoughby
Bob Willoughby
-
Bournemouth Echo
No real name given
-
jbenz1989
No real name given
-
matew
Matteo Sponza
-
Rosane Marques
No real name given
-
Alesfra
No real name given
-
Afrobrasil
Claus Bunks ♫ ♪
-
dorsetbays
Stephen, Helen and...
-
Todd Huffman
Todd Huffman
-
MothersFightingFor...
No real name given
-
Deb's Designs &...
No real name given
Groups (50)
- flickr Award (MUST award 3)No comment=BAN 224800 photos, 21394 members
- Refugee Women 433 photos, 489 members
- FlickRelief: a collective effort 286 photos, 666 members
- ♥♥ PEOPLE AROUND US ♥♥(ALL KIND OF PEOPLE PICTURES) 52728 photos, 4906 members
- Refugee 970 photos, 106 members
- Africa Mission Alliance, Inc. 31 photos, 5 members
- The WACC Photographic Competition 2009 1416 photos, 954 members
- Cultural Boxes 54155 photos, 2702 members
- Impressions & Expressions 41602 photos, 2561 members
- International Museum of Women's Mother's Day Photo Contest 224 photos, 297 members
- Golden Photographer (Invite Only Images and +10Faves) 30715 photos, 6487 members
- STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE (SIFE) : Global Flickr Community 61 photos, 40 members
- enso 380 photos, 73 members
- Breakthrough: An Amateur Photography Revolution @ SFAC Gallery 128 photos, 34 members
- flickr GOLD***invited images only pls*** 74092 photos, 14950 members
- The Flickr Portrait Gallery 131394 photos, 12918 members
- What's human heart made by? 42 photos, 31 members
- Natural Bournemouth 1127 photos, 50 members
- Kinson Common 1024 photos, 27 members
- Decisive Moments... Classics in B&W 11278 photos, 2616 members
- Black and White Portraits 16189 photos, 1812 members
- Helluva Shot!! ART GALLERY 32756 photos, 2744 members
- Peace Is Not Just A Word 2615 photos, 500 members
- The Blink of an Eye 2214 photos, 3229 members
- Tea World 877 photos, 340 members
- Impressed by your Beauty! {Invite Only} - VOTE NOW! 220715 photos, 34370 members
- EVERYONE A CHANGEMAKER 4566 photos, 1200 members
- Mundo Uno - One World, One Future, for the Children 21217 photos, 5322 members
- U&I Magazine:: Submit your photos for the next issue! 91350 photos, 8940 members
- africa! africa! 10613 photos, 692 members
- Magnum Magnitude 5795 photos, 421 members
- Detail is the Enemy 2620 photos, 338 members
- The Professionals 0 photos, 406 members
- Oxfam GB 2276 photos, 274 members
- THEMED WEEKLY CONTESTS <closed for now> 114 photos, 2359 members
- heroes,and heroines the world over 273 photos, 417 members
- Bard's PUBLIC Art Collection (No Nudes/erotica) 430 photos, 200 members
- Flickr Weekly Fav (in your own photostream) 80 photos, 509 members
- flaneur 5998 photos, 310 members
- GUSTO: Aging with Power, Wisdom, & Irreverence NEW RULES 2725 photos, 526 members
- Views: 1000 22115 photos, 9101 members
- Mi mejor fotografía del mes / My best shot of the month 3955 photos, 689 members
- Children of War 479 photos, 115 members
- Excellent self-portraits (eeblet's dictatorship) 518 photos, 513 members
- GREAT PORTRAITS-ONLY THE VERY BEST 2382 photos, 2383 members
- **A Big Fave (Invite Only)-Post 1/Fave or Comment 2 499357 photos, 61537 members
- Anti Photo Radar 221 photos, 679 members
- MY WINNERS (Moderated Queue) Post 1 must comment 2/Sweeper activ 701063 photos, 77237 members
- APF contest is Closed 0 photos, 1560 members
- Gridskipper 5124 photos, 443 members
Testimonials (11)
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
* 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
-
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
-
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
-
kowchas says:
"Kresta is someone who walks the walk. I am better for seeing her photos.
She is a jewel!"29th October, 2005
-
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











