Group of Rwandan teenager students lake Burera Northern Rwanda Central Africa
A group of young Rwanda teenagers returning from a long day at school. We offered these children a lift home as we were traveling on the track around the Lake Burera and in the same direction that they were walking. They were plucky and spoke very little English. But we established that they walk every day to and from school. After about a further half hour of driving the dusty track surrounded by the most beautiful hills, lake, woodland and enchanting views at every turn and periodic homestead we began to wonder whether they were just joking and coming along for a magical mystery ride! But eventually one of the girls signaled for me to stop and alighted thanking and laughing delightedly. The journey continued for some considerable distance till the last teenager stepped forth at home. To think that they all walk some 10 or more miles every morning then return again 10 miles to reach home was a revelation and humbled us enormously. May God bless you all dear souls. Rwanda is a country that has surmounted the insurmountable. It moves forward from genocides of monumental proportion, most recently that of 1994 when over one million died in a matter of weeks. There is a silence that speaks of this pain. There is a stare that questions what we want from them and what we have to offer. Foreigners are called Mzungos which translates as 'aimlessly wandering'. We visited the Genocide Museum in Kigali where streams of young processed round the extraordinary and heart wrenching exhibit, sensitively , beautifully and truthfully presented. Their tears and quiet courage shouted from the inner recesses of their hearts. This will not happen again and much needs to be recognised and learned which these clear and wonderful souls will rise to. Bless them all.
Size: 4104px × 2304px
Location: Lake Burera Northern Akagera Rwanda Central Africa
Photo credit: © Roland Pargeter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1994, africa., burera, central, confidence, courage, forbearance, forge, generation, genocide, group, joy, lake, northern, peace, put, rwanda, rwandan, rwandans, students, teenager, tolerance., tragedies, world
