Next week, on Thursday 27th January, is Holocaust Memorial Day.

Survivors Fund (SURF) has supported the commemoration since it was inaugurated in 2001. SURF played a leading role in the national event of HMD 2004 in Belfast with the theme being “From the Holocaust to Rwanda: lessons learned, lessons still to learn“. At that event, Rwandan survivor and SURF trustee, Jeannette Kagabo, spoke alongside Holocaust survivor, Gena Turgel.

Our involvement continues to this day. A number of other survivors will be speaking at events across London and the UK. SURF has helped to organise the Holocaust Memorial Day programme for the Borough of Tower Hamlets, which includes a special film programme on the theme for HMD 2011, Untold Stories, at the Rich Mix on 27th January, as well as a photographic exhibition at Ideas Stores across the Borough.

We have also contributed to two podcasts recorded specially for the HMD Trust, about the work of SURF and our involvement with HMD, as well as a reading of Philip Gourevitch’s excellent book on the genocide, We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families.

You can get involved by attending any of the events, or simply by lighting a virtual candle in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide and other genocides on the HMD Trust website.  To learn more about HMD then please do watch the short film below, which features SURF Trustee, Appolinaire Kageruka: