» A Rwandan Wedding | The Advocacy Project

Lisa Rogoff (Survivor Corps in Rwanda): Lisa has spent much of her professional career promoting human rights. She earned a BA from Colgate University. She then worked for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience where she produced Voices on Genocide Prevention, a weekly podcast. Lisa then worked at the ENOUGH Project, directing campaigns to raise awareness about the crises in Sudan, Congo and Uganda. Lisa returned to academia to pursue a joint-degree at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and McDonough School of Business. While at Georgetown she worked at the Clinton Global Initiative, designing the Human Rights and Peace Track for the CGI’s second annual conference for university students. During her first year at graduate school, Lisa also worked with the Grassroots and Issues Management Team at APCO Worldwide, a global communications consulting firm. After her fellowship, Lisa wrote: "My experience in Rwanda has taught me the importance of flexibility. I’ve also seen the importance of empowering women...I don’t know that I’ve changed the way I look at myself, though I have come to understand just how fortunate I am to have been born in my circumstances. I have met so many wonderful and talented men and women in Rwanda who have been unable to realize their fullest potential because of their economic, social, or political situations.”

12 Jul

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6TKezCUXhI

On Saturday, Muhire took my friend, Marie, my roommate Parker, and me to a Rwandan wedding – the wedding of his childhood friend’s cousin – and lent Marie and me his mom’s traditional dresses. We were decked out and as many of the guests told us, we looked “very smart.”

The wedding was an all day celebration, beginning with a ceremony of the families meeting at the bride’s house, a large buffet lunch, the ceremony at the church, and a reception with traditional dancers.

We were welcomed with open arms and given the royal treatment. The maid of honor helped us tie our dresses, the bride welcomed us into her bridal suite, and we were seated front and center at the reception. Personally, I think the umuzungus in the traditional Rwandan dress may have just provided some comic relief for the guests. Either way, it was a fantastic day! Congratulations Patrick and Ingrid!

Posted By Lisa Rogoff

Posted Jul 12th, 2009

A Rwandan Wedding

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