April is a difficult month for survivors. It marks the anniversary of the genocide, and the beginning of the period of mourning which runs until July. In both Rwanda and the UK, there are a number of commemorations to mark … Continue Reading »
News
Claims and contentions
A number of articles of late have raised awareness of the lack of support that survivors in Rwanda have received, and continue to receive, from international development agencies. In yesterday’s Observer, there is a fascinating profile of the Dutch writer Linda … Continue Reading »
Pledge of support
A number of events have marked the 16th Anniversary of the Rwandan genocide this week. At Southwark Cathedral, addresses were given by Linda Melvern and the new Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK, Ernest Rwamucyo, at a commemoration organised by the … Continue Reading »
Sixteen years on
Sixteen years on from the genocide in Rwanda and there remain many challenges for survivors. Most pressing for widowed survivors is lack of adequate shelter, and for orphaned survivors difficulty in completing their education. A shared challenge for all survivors … Continue Reading »
Passover
Tonight marks the Jewish festival of Passover, the remembrance of the emancipation of the Jewish people from slavery and persecution in Egypt. This festival continues to have relevance today. In relation to Rwanda, there are a couple of parallels that … Continue Reading »
Commemoration
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 »
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 »
