Roz Carr arrived in Rwanda more than 50 years ago and fell in love with the beauty of Rwanda and the dignity of its people. In order to make a living for herself, this amazing American woman purchased land near the Virunga Mountains and started a business growing and selling cut flowers. Roz developed a friendship with Dian Fossey and some of the scenes from Gorillas in the Mist were filmed on Roz’s flower farm.
During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Roz saved the lives of her Rwandan neighbors by hiding them on her farm. When the insurgents found out about this, they sent word that they were coming to the farm to kill her. She escaped to the DRC and returned to the United States. After watching the horrific accounts of the genocide on TV, Roz decided to return to Rwanda later the same year.
When she returned everything she owned had been destroyed-just like the homes, schools and businesses of her Rwandan 
neighbors. At the age of 82, Roz made the decision to rebuild her home and business, and, at the same time, founded the Imbabazi Orphanage to care for children orphaned by the genocide.
This remarkable woman passed away in September 2006 at the tender age of 94. PIC began providing operating expenses for the Imbabazi Orphanage in 1995 and, following Roz’s death, will not only continue helping care for 116 children but also will help fund tuition fees for secondary and college students. 
PIC realizes that supporting an orphanage doesn’t exactly fit within the conservation objectives that form their core mission, but knew that it was the right thing to do. PIC’s partnership with the Imbabazi and the support given to children who survived the genocide has gained the respect of the Rwandan government. This has opened doors for productive conservation discussions between PIC and Rwandan wildlife authorities.