Next week is the start of the commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda in which one million Tutsis, and a number of moderate Hutus, were targeted and killed in just one hundred days from April to July … Continue Reading »
Author: David Russell
Events
In the lead up to the anniversary of the genocide in April, SURF is involved in a number of initiatives. On Tuesday 29th March, SURF is organising a memorial ceremony to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide in … Continue Reading »
Red Nose Day
Today is Red Nose Day, the biennial telethon to raise money for Comic Relief. Survivors Fund (SURF) has a long association with Comic Relief. In fact, SURF’s Founder, Mary Kayitesi Blewitt, raised funding for AVEGA from Comic Relief in 1995, … Continue Reading »
A remarkable traveller
It is with great sadness that we learned recently of the death of Roger Diski, a great friend of Rwanda and of Survivors Fund (SURF). Roger was a true pioneer, a social entrepreneur, an activist. As founder of Rainbow Tours, … Continue Reading »
International Women’s Day
Today is International Women’s Day (IWD) – a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of IWD. Much of SURF’s work involves and is led by … Continue Reading »
Reparations
A new UN report published today calls for reparations for victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as “a matter of priority”. The 55-page report is a fascinating read, not only for the conclusion that it … Continue Reading »
Giving
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) today launched a new report: Ten Ways to boost giving. The report identifies current barriers to giving (“I can’t afford it”; “I think charities are inefficient”) and proposes ideas on how to encourage and stimulate people … Continue Reading »
Support
One of the great benefits of my job as Director of Survivors Fund (SURF) is the opportunity to meet an array of supporters of our work. Over the past ten days, then I have enjoyed three such meetings: Last week, I … Continue Reading »
Mentoring
A critical component of the Education into Employment (EiE) programme which Survivors Fund (SURF) has developed in partnership with the Student’s Association of Survivors of the Genocide (AERG) is a mentoring scheme. EiE supports disadvantaged youth, many of whom are … Continue Reading »
Happy Givers
Survivors Fund (SURF) was fortunate to have been amongst the organisations presenting at the most recent Happy Givers. Established by Dame Hilary Blume, Happy Givers is an initiative which brings together young people to meet the Biblical obligation “to care for the stranger, and … Continue Reading »