In 2002, while volunteering at a Orphanage of 100 boys, Ezra Kwizera, and his wife Mona, “felt a call to minister to the orphans of the 1994 Genocide to hopefully prevent them from becoming another army seeking revenge.” Many widows of the genocide brought their children to orphanages with hopes of giving them a better life than they felt they could provide – food, clothing, medical care, schooling. “To keep families together is very important to us,” says Ezra. With that goal in mind, in 2005 Ezra and Mona started a sewing school for widows with young children, and a program to assist them with such basic needs as housing, food, clothes, and school fees and supplies. “We would much rather see these children stay with their mothers and assist the whole family to have a better life.”
The sewing school gives these women hope, as well as a way to support their families. The school is free, including all supplies. Ezra’s passion for these women and children is unyielding. “Our goal,” he says, “ is to assist them in finding a profitable way sell the clothes they sew. Hopefully one way will be to export them, some how.”
If not for Ezra and Mona, this child would probably be an orphan. Now she comes with her mom to the sewing school.
Copyright Adam Bacher. All rights reserved. Absolutely no usage without prior authorization.
When your vision becomes a reality, how will you tell your story?
I’m a commercial photographer and photojournalist based in Portland, Oregon, since 1991. I specialize in commercial location photography for businesses. The majority of this work is for architectural, corporate, editorial, and public relations clients, and appears in a variety of print and electronic media. You can view samples online at: www.adambacher.com.
Since 2007 I’ve been taking a month each year to devote my time towards humanitarian missions.
Three trips have taken me to Rwanda, for a project documenting the countries recovery from the genocide in 1994, which claimed the lives of one-million people in the course of 100 days. Images and stories from the places I visited are featured on my blog site at: www.bachersblog.com.
This November, I’m going to Haiti for 4 weeks, to help two non-profits working tirelessly to save and rebuild lives following the earthquake in 2010. As well as donating my still and video images, I plan to create a traveling print exhibit, and a multi-media educational presentation to build awareness and remind us of Haiti's needs. If you’re interested in project please see this link: http://igg.me/p/44329?a=249927&i=shlk
My commercial work makes this humanitarian effort possible. I exhibit and speak nationally, offering a provocative visual and journalistic insight into contemporary Rwanda and the recovery, reconciliation, and reconstruction of the of the country. This message of hope, peace, and diversity, has been enthusiastically received at peace conferences, corporate gatherings, and in public schools.
Specialties
All aspects of location photography including: Architectural, Corporate, Editorial, People, Public Relations, Travel and Photojournalism.
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Poignant photography. Isn’t it amazing what we can do when we choose justice, compassion and peace?