About the Documentary

Child in Charge is a journey through the eyes of three Rwandans, orphaned in the 1994 genocide. From the horror of losing their parents to their hope for a better future, these young people hold the future of a nation in their hands.

In July 2006, journalist Bryce Green, camera operators Francis O’Donohue, Joelle O’Donohue, and digital designer Kym Rolle spent ten days with these three families in rural Rwanda.

Background

Rwanda suffered under genocide, war and massacres between April and July 1994, which left the country grief-stricken and devastated. It’s estimated between 800,000 and 1,000,000 people were killed in just 100 days. Those events left behind children who were forced into the role of heads of households for a variety of different reasons: either their parents were killed during the genocide, they died in exile, they were genocide suspects in detention, or had died of natural causes (particularly AIDS). Child headed households suffer not only from material poverty, but also from inadequate moral, social and psychological help. Many communities are still struggling with their own recovery, and as a result pay little attention to the child heads of households.

The existence of such a large number of orphaned children constitutes an enormous challenge for Rwanda. The community within which the children live largely ignores their plight. Yet, they are tomorrow’s Rwanda.

What then will be the future of Rwanda when these children become adults?

The documentary, Child in Charge, exists to inform and inspire people to make a difference in the lives of these children.

Child in Charge has been produced by Seat of the Pants Productions