RWANDAN SURVIVORS IN THE UK SURVIVORS FUND (SURF) DAVID RUSSELL SURVIVORS FUND (SURF) October 2009
History Mary Kayitesi Blewitt Constituted in 1997 Partner approach Rwanda and UK
Philosophy By and for survivors “Just is” for survivors Hearing and healing Holistic approach
Population 400,000 survivors in Rwanda 1,500 survivors in the UK 1 million victims
SURF Rwanda In Rwanda we deliver… Education Healthcare Livelihoods Memory Shelter ... and more
SURF UK In the UK we deliver… Hardship Trauma counselling Legal representation Commemoration Solidarity ... and more
Statistics 3,195 applications for asylum from Rwandans from 1999 to 2008 (of which 3,025 from 1999 to 2002) 475 granted asylum (0 since 2004) 900 granted humanitarian protection, exceptional or discretionary leave (Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2008, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 14/09)
Issues Trauma Loneliness Guilty conscious Lack of Advocacy Voice
Response Annual commemoration event Medical Foundation / Redress partnership Hardship Grant programme Hope Survivors Foundation (HSF)
Future Holocaust Survivors Centre Model Intergenerational Inheritance of Trauma Funding Dependent Diaspora / Rwanda
What is success? Self-sufficiency Empowerment Confidence Livelihood
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS www.survivors-fund.org.uk