As a prelude to the publication of our Annual Review 2023/24, we feature from it a message from the Chair of Survivors Fund (SURF), Sam Hunt MBE:
In this year of the 30th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, it is timely to reflect upon all that Survivors Fund (SURF) has achieved over the years to help survivors rebuild their shattered lives and to honour the innocent souls who perished. SURF has worked tirelessly and achieved so much:
• Over 15,000 genocide widows have developed livelihoods through our evidence-based wraparound support (including livelihoods training, access to finance, counselling, legal support).
• Over 5,000 student survivors have accessed entrepreneurship and work readiness training resulting in the establishment of over 1,500 new businesses.
• Over 2,500 women genocide survivors, raped and infected with HIV, have been supported to access lifesaving antiretroviral treatment.
• Over 1,500 young survivors have been supported to access legal support through the AERG Legal and Counselling Helpline securing a return of assets of over $1 million for young survivors.
• Over 850 marginalised youth born of rape to women survivors have graduated from school as a result of our education and counselling support.
• Over 400 houses have been built for vulnerable survivors still in need of secure shelter.
• Over 40 memorial sites have been constructed, providing decent burial for over 300,000 victims of the genocide.
• SURF has established 4 healthcare centres servicing more than 30,000 people every month.
• Over 1,000 survivors have been supported through university and many now hold prominent positions in Rwanda.
• And most recently, SURF has been instrumental in opening the Philly’s Place children’s centre, providing free education programmes to nearly 1,000 children and serving as a vital community hub in Bugesera.
None of this would have been possible without the ongoing support of SURF’s many donors and benefactors. Your loyalty and support for our cause have been instrumental in enabling SURF to achieve all that it has. It is important also to recognise the dedication and commitment of the SURF staff who work so tirelessly, day in, day out, to make this world a better place. Working collectively, donors, trustees and staff have made SURF what it is and can be truly proud of all it has achieved.
On this 30th anniversary, we honour the memory of the innocent souls who perished in the genocide and acknowledge the courage of those who survived. We are humbled by your resilience and dignity and our thoughts are forever with you during this momentous year of commemoration.
For those interested to learn more, and to support our work further, please do log on to our website at www.survivors-fund-org.uk on which there are films which bring to life some of SURF’s projects, as well as information on how to donate.
Sam Hunt MBE, Chair