April 7th marks the 16th Anniversary of the start of the genocide in Rwanda, in which one million Tutsi and a number of moderate Hutu sympathisers were killed. Through the support of Awards for All of the Big Lottery Fund, … Continue Reading »
Author: David Russell
You Alone May Live
Since retiring as director of Survivors Fund (SURF) last year, Mary Kayitesi Blewitt OBE has been writing up her experience of working with survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Mary dedicated fifteen years of her life to the work, ever since … Continue Reading »
A week in Rwanda
I have just returned from a visit to Rwanda, on which I reported previously about our ongoing discussions with our partners on the priorities for our work ahead. The past week has been a busy one, and presents a good … Continue Reading »
Priorities
Here in Rwanda, we have been focusing on how we prioritise SURF’s work over the year ahead, in consultation with our partners – survivor’s organisations with which we are currently, or may soon be, working. There are two questions that … Continue Reading »
AVEGA Agahozo
AVEGA Agahozo is one of the key partners of Survivors Fund (SURF). It represents and supports widows of the genocide, and their dependents. IRIN this week reported on the importance of the organisation in empowering genocide widows, as well as … Continue Reading »
Adaptation
In the time between developing a new project, and its completion, a lot can change. SURF is fortunate to have donors that recognise the importance of adapting our work, and accordingly their funding, to ensure that we most effectively meet … Continue Reading »
Care and Treatment
I have blogged previously about the support of the UK Department of International Development (DFID) for survivors in Rwanda. For five years, DFID have funded a Care and Treatment of Rwandan Genocide Survivors Infected by HIV/AIDS Project – referred to … Continue Reading »
Holocaust Memorial Day
Today, January 27th, marks the 65th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. Survivors Fund (SURF) has been involved in marking the commemoration in a variety of ways. Our Co-Chair, Liliane Umubyeyi, was interviewed … Continue Reading »
Solace Ministries
One of the key partners of Survivors Fund (SURF) is Solace Ministries, a Christian-based survivor’s organisation which ministers to widows and orphans of the genocide in Rwanda. Established in 1995 by a survivor, Jean Gakwandi, SURF has supported its work which has … Continue Reading »
Speaking out
I was fortunate to undertake a course whilst studying at New York University with Irshad Manji, Founder of the Moral Courage Project. Moral Courage is “the willingness to speak truth to power and risk backlash for a greater good.” There … Continue Reading »