As 2009 draws to a close, we have been working on our end of year appeal. Survivors Fund (SURF) does not have an annual fundraising dinner or event, and as such is dependent on the generosity of supporters through the … Continue Reading »
Author: David Russell
Alliance
Through the course of the work of Survivors Fund (SURF), it is always remarkable to learn of other organisations working in Rwanda which share an allied goal of providing support to survivors. Two organisations in particular of note have been … Continue Reading »
Can SURF do what Kiva can’t?
Kiva, a remarkable online portal to connect donors directly to entrepreneurs in developing countries, admitted this week that its claim to facilitate donor-to-borrower connections is partly fictional. In fact, donations are channelled through microfinance institutions, and the entrepreneurs advertised already … Continue Reading »
Reportage Press
In the run-up to Christmas, Reportage Press will donate £1 from every book sold via its website to Survivors Fund (SURF). Reportage Press is an independent publishing house specialising in books on foreign affairs. It was co-founded by the former … Continue Reading »
Post from Rwanda
SURF is currently undergoing an evaluation of its work by Comic Relief, our first and to date largest funder. The evaluation is assessing the impact of nine projects Comic Relief has funded since our partnership began in 1997. The efforts … Continue Reading »
Thank you
2009 has been a particularly challenging year for SURF – as it has been for many charities. We are fortunate to have a number of committed donors that have enabled us to not only sustain, but in some cases even … Continue Reading »
Statistics
Of all the pages on the SURF website, the one that receives by far the greatest number of visits is the page of statistics on the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The most popular search term on google that … Continue Reading »
Teaching on Rwanda
SURF is fortunate to be supported in its work by two great teachers, Andy Lawrence of Hampton School and Sam Hunt of Sandhurst Comprehensive. Their work has been profiled in a comprehensive feature in The Guardian. Andy has been developing … Continue Reading »
The challenge of communications
The arrest of Idelphonse Nizeyimana, a leading genocidaire, accused of killing thousands of Tutsis in the 1994 genocide – including Queen Rosalie Gicanda – was announced today. Survivors Fund is often asked to comment on such news stories, which presents … Continue Reading »
Experiments in fundraising
John Wanamaker, an American retailer, famously said: “half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.” At times I feel something similar as to our investment in fundraising: “half the time I … Continue Reading »