Rosamond Carr

Rosamond Carr Founder Imbabazi Orphanage : An American humanitarian and author, Rosamond Carr founded Imbabazi Orphanage in Rwanda. Rosamond Carr was born on 28th August, 1912 in South Orange, New Jersey and died on 29th September, 2006 in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

After the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Rosamond, then eighty-two, established an orphanage on her flower plantation at the base of the Virunga Mountains. She named it “Imbabazi,” which translates to “a place where you will receive all the love and care a mother would give. Roz as she was casually referred to by friends gave up her lavish lifestyle as a fashion illustrator and New York City socialite to follow her husband Kenneth Carr, a British explorer and hunter who travelled to the then Belgian – Congo.

She had grown to love her native country and its people, so after they split up, she chose not to return. She purchased a plantation in Rwanda, a neighboring country, and led an incredible life amidst personal struggles, love, adventure, political unrest, and civil wars. During that time, she helped her community by providing and distributing medicine, administering first aid and paying school fees for a few children.

As one of the longest living foreign residents and last foreign owner of plantations in Rwanda, Rosamond Carr witnessed several changes and occurrences in the African continent and Rwanda in particular such as the fall of colonialism and rise of new African states; she observed and survived civil wars and revolutions such as the unforgettable tragedy in 1994, Rwandan genocide which caused several deaths and left a wounded heart in Rwanda.

In December 1994, the Imbabazi Orphanage opened its doors to receive more than 400 lost and orphaned children who had experienced genocide. The children were able to receive love, care, and comfort from her and her staff. As of right now, the home offers peace, love, safety, and hope to abandoned and orphaned children, serving as a safe haven.

At the age of ninety-four, “Roz” passed away at the Imbabazi Orphanage on September 29, 2006, a place she had loved and dedicated her life to for the previous fifty years. Although she regretted never having children of her own, she had a fulfilled life serving and loving her community and becoming a mother to over 400 children. The New York Times described her as having a “love affair with Africa” after her passing.

Rosamond Carr
Rosamond Carr

The current proprietors of Imbabazi have kept her legacy alive by continuing its operations and have further developed the orphanage by creating different projects like farming where they grow flowers, fresh vegetables, forestry, education where they have set up schools which include the pre-school, Gugusta programme where children reaching adulthood and leaving the orphanage are equipped with skills to prepare them for life outside the orphanage.

Imbabazi Orphanage is a major draw for travelers and it has highly contributed to the growth of activities like gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, community encounters, and nearby destinations like Lake Kivu, Volcanoes NP and Virunga National Park.

Rwanda has taken a great leap in restoring the country from after-effects of genocide through restoring the economy, promoting peace and unity through reconciliation programs among the people. Rosamond’s Imbabazi Orphanage is one among the many stories that symbolize a new and ever-changing Rwanda.

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