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

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

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 »

Acknowledgement

There are two pieces of news that I share with you, both an acknowledgement of the work of SURF and our partners. At the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations last month, a resolution was adopted calling for the … Continue Reading »

The year ahead

The year ahead

As we near the year end, and finish writing up our annual reports to donors, we are currently focusing as well on the work ahead in 2010.  As I have written previously, there are many challenges for Survivors Fund (SURF), … Continue Reading »

The Psychology of Giving

The Psychology of Giving

Much has been written and spoken about the psychology of giving. What motivates people to give, and what more can organisations like SURF do to engage people to give more. Nicholas Kristof addresses the issue in the most recent issue … Continue Reading »

End of Year Appeal

End of Year Appeal

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 »

Alliance

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 »

Genocide_Small

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 »