Is Rwanda Ready for Paris?

Tue., Sep. 25, 2007 5:56 PM PDT by Tina Dirmann

Paris Hilton in Rwanda? Yes, it's true, and she even knows the country has no resorts or high-end spas...

In fact, Hilton says it's all part of her new, postjail commitment to use her celebrity to bring the spotlight to what she feels are important causes around the world.

"I'll be going in November, after I get back from filming my movie," Hilton exclusively tells E! Online.

As she spoke, Hilton was boarding a plane to film her new role in the horror-musical flick Repo! The Genetic Opera, from Darren Lynn Bousman, director of the immensely popular Saw films.

"There's so much need in that area, and I feel like if I go, it will bring more attention to what people can do to help," Hilton said of the region.

Racked by genocide and tribal warfare, Rwanda currently has a life-expectancy rate of just 39 years and and only 41 percent of the population has easy access to safe drinking water, according to the humanitarian group CARE.

Hilton was originally invited to visit Rwanda by Scott Lazerson, of Playing for Good. Lazerson helped found the organization in 2006 to help high-end business and entertainment personalities become involved in a variety of charities benefiting children and families in need.

And don't expect the Rwandan expedition to be Hilton's last.

"I want to visit more countries where poverty and children's issues are a big concern," the 26-year-old socialite said. "I know there's a lot of good I can do just by getting involved and bringing attention to these issues."

Aside from her do-gooder plans, Hilton told E! Online that that she will also be working on her new Beverly Hills home to make it more "green friendly."

"I just bought the house and haven't been able to work on it yet," Hilton said. "But I intend to."

In the meantime, Hilton will be in Toronto to shoot Repo!, which costars stage siren Sarah Brightman, former Buffy boss Anthony Head, Goodfellas heavy Paul Sorvino and Spy Kids' Alexa Vega.

Based on Bousman's stage musical, Repo! is set in the near future, where an epidemic of organ failures forces people to buy expensive new internal parts on credit. Default results in a painful visit from the nefarious repo men.