In 2019, I was a member of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, a high school in Rwanda for vulnerable youth. The project began in 2018 with the aim of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children who were orphaned after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Since then, the project has continued to grow, providing hundreds of students with free education, safety, and stability.
I lived and worked in the village for 7 months and was responsible for photographing the community, capturing the everyday lives of the students, teachers, and staff. Being a part of this close-knit community allowed me to take pictures of everyday situations, such as sports practices and classes. I also had the opportunity to participate in special events such as student-led initiatives to help the surrounding communities, student performances, and visits from partner organizations.
In addition to photography and videography, I had the pleasure of teaching photography and video to over 120 students and sharing my love for these subjects with them.