A group of women from the small village of Horsley, near Nailsworth, in Gloucestershire decided to raise money to help support the victims of the Rwandan genocide ten years ago by producing a calendar. They were motivated to support the Rwandan women and in doing so they wanted to do something creative and positive in line with many of the hopeful projects in Rwanda today. Naked As the calendar took shape it has become an important journey for the women both individually and as a group. The decision to appear naked was by no means a frivolous one and the photographs are not intended to be provocative but rather, beautiful in their simplicity. The group wanted to use their bodies in an empowered way, to show strength and vulnerability in support of the brave, yet vulnerable Rwandan women.
The aim of the calendar is not just to raise money for the Rwandan survivors but to convey feelings that are beyond words. It is done in a spirit of love and solidarity for the women, men and children who suffered then, and for those who are still suffering today. Photography Angela Williams is a professional portrait photographer and she's responsible for the evocative black-and-white pictures in the calendar. She explains the motivation behind the photographs: "Images of war can create apathy. These photographs endeavour to create images of empathy, defiance and solidarity." Angela's work is included in a permanent collection at the National Portrait Gallery. Rwandan genocide On 7th April 1994 one of the most barbaric and sustained periods of killing in human history began. After 100 days, an estimated one million people in Rwanda had lost their lives. Thousands of women were infected with HIV/AIDS when they were raped as part of a sustained campaign to eliminate not only the women but future generations. Survivors Fund has been working to improve the lives of the survivors of the Rwandan genocide since 1998. Their work contributes to the needs of the survivors by supporting numerous projects geared at confronting the diversity of their needs be it shelter, livelihood assistance, medical or psychological support. More information If you're interested in getting your hands on a copy of the Exposed Calendar 2005, check out the Horsley Women's Calendar website: www.hwcalendar.co.uk If you would like to comment on this story get in touch at [email protected]or have your say on our messageboard | 
A group of women from the small village of Horsley in Gloucestershire have created a naked calendar with a difference to raise cash for a worthy cause...
