Anthony Rathbun Photography

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JEANNE-CELESTINE-LAKIN3624-2x1 SQ CROP.TIF

In April of 1994, the Rwandan government, aided by militias and Hutu citizens, initiated an ethnic massacre aimed at eliminating the Tutsis. At the time, Jeanne, a Tutsi, was only nine-years-old. Over the course of 100 days, she and her sisters were forced to survive in the wilderness to elude being killed by roaming militiamen. After many months of savagery and death, she discovered her parents and all her adult relatives, along with one million others had been killed. For Jeanne surviving the genocide was only the beginning.

At age 14, Jeanne found herself in an American classroom. There she began learning a new language while carrying the deep wounds caused by the horror she witnessed and years of abuse as an orphan in Rwanda prior to being adopted by a family that relocated to the United States. She was determined to create a better life for herself and went on to attend college and then earn her master’s degree from Eastern Washington University.

Since roughly 2008, Jeanne has served as an adoption counselor and recently released her memoir, A Voice in the Darkness. The book recounts her loss of innocence and fight for survival. It provides hope that good can follow dark days, and that by giving others a voice, many can benefit. Jeanne uses her story to advocate for orphans through her nonprofit. Her hope is to raise awareness for orphans and shine a light on an extremely ominous time in human history. The funds raised for One Million Orphans go towards providing care, including food, clothing, education, medical assistance, and counseling, to children in orphanages across the globe in countries like Rwanda, Burundi, and more.

Photographed for Houstonia Magazine

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ANTHONY RATHBUN PHOTOGRAPHY
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In April of 1994, the Rwandan government, aided by militias and Hutu citizens, initiated an ethnic massacre aimed at eliminating the Tutsis. At the time, Jeanne, a Tutsi, was only nine-years-old. Over the course of 100 days, she and her sisters were forced to survive in the wilderness to elude being killed by roaming militiamen. After many months of savagery and death, she discovered her parents and all her adult relatives, along with one million others had been killed. For Jeanne surviving the genocide was only the beginning.<br /> <br /> At age 14, Jeanne found herself in an American classroom. There she began learning a new language while carrying the deep wounds caused by the horror she witnessed and years of abuse as an orphan in Rwanda prior to being adopted by a family that relocated to the United States. She was determined to create a better life for herself and went on to attend college and then earn her master’s degree from Eastern Washington University. <br /> <br /> Since roughly 2008, Jeanne has served as an adoption counselor and recently released her memoir, A Voice in the Darkness. The book recounts her loss of innocence and fight for survival. It provides hope that good can follow dark days, and that by giving others a voice, many can benefit. Jeanne uses her story to advocate for orphans through her nonprofit. Her hope is to raise awareness for orphans and shine a light on an extremely ominous time in human history. The funds raised for One Million Orphans go towards providing care, including food, clothing, education, medical assistance, and counseling, to children in orphanages across the globe in countries like Rwanda, Burundi, and more.<br /> <br /> Photographed for Houstonia Magazine