The Grandchildren of Genocide

A teen orphaned by the Rwandan genocide makes the heartbreaking choice to abandon her children. Years later, an unshakable bond keeps her bruised boys looking toward the future.

Photos by Anais Lopez

Hirwa never should have given the phone to Jean-Cloude. His brother might be ten now and almost as strong as Hirwa himself, but Jean-Cloude breaks everything. Now he’s dropped the phone in the water and Hirwa can’t detach his eyes from the broken Tecno. This is all beyond repair. And they’ve only just arrived.