Rwandan Survivors

There are an estimated 300,000 survivors of the Rwandan genocide.

The 2007 report on the living conditions of survivors conducted by the Ministry in charge of Social Affairs in Rwanda reported the following situation of survivors: [cite web|url=http://www.miraclecorners.org/programs_partner_jacqueline.htm|title=Jacqueline's Human Rights Corner|accessdate=2008|date=2008|publisher=Jacqueline's Human Rights Corner]

120,080: Very vulnerable survivors

39,685: Shelterless

28,904: Orphans Living in households headed by children

49,656: Widows

27,498: Disabled during the genocide

15,438: Children and youth with no access to school

8,000: Graduates from High School with no access to higher education

There are a number of organisations representing and supporting these survivors of the genocide. These are:

SURF (or the Survivors Fund) is the main international charity dedicated to aiding and assisting the survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Since 1997, SURF has been advocating and fundraising internationally in support of the efforts of grassroots survivors organisations in Rwanda, including IBUKA (National Umbrella of Survivors’ Organisations), AVEGA (Association of Widows of the Genocide), AOCM (Association of Orphan-Headed Households), Uyisenga N'Manzi (Organisation of Child Survivors with HIV/AIDS) and Solace Ministries (Christian Survivors Support Organisation). Its focus is to ensure that the voices of survivors are listened to and heard, memories of the genocide are kept alive, victims of the genocide are never forgotten and survivors of the genocide are supported in Rwanda, and in the UK where it is based.

IBUKA is a high profile lobby group with a particular interest in addressing justice for survivors and coordinating / leading joint survivors’ projects on a national level. A direct translation of IBUKA is “remember”, which is the objective of the umbrella association. It is composed of ten member organisations, which work to perpetuate the memory of genocide and provide support to genocide survivors. Speaking out is a sign of confidence of the survivors and being heard increases that confidence, which is what IBUKA strives to achieve.

AVEGA was founded in 1995 by 50 widowed survivors, who realised after the genocide that there was no one left to care for them or their children. The charity provides a means of support and recovery, and promotes self-fulfilment and self-reliance through many programmes, ranging from social networking to job training and from home construction to peer counselling. AVEGA now has five centres across Rwanda.

AOCM respond to the needs of orphans who survived the genocide, in particular to promote the general welfare of its 40,000 members in 10,000 orphan-headed households. Its staff are all orphans themselves who head households. SURF helped AOCM build its capacity to advocate to give orphaned survivors of the genocide a stronger voice in Rwanda. AOCM is now an established and reputable, growing child-advocacy organisation.

Uyisenga N'Manzi is a community-based organization that provides economic, educational and health-related support for child-headed households in Kigali. According to the International Fund for Rwanda, over 120,000 homes became child-headed households as a result of the 1994 genocide, and that number continues to grow as adults succumb to AIDS. In some cases, the head of household is as young as 10 or 12.

Solace Ministries is an officially registered Christian based charity, which supports traumatised widows and orphans of genocide, especially people living with HIV/AIDS. It helps to restore hope and overcome feelings of despair, loneliness, hatred, anger and resentment among its members. Its programmes include counselling; childcare and development programmes; community development programmes; health and relief; capacity building and research. More importantly, it provides a vital secure environment for survivors to meet and pray together.

References

External links

* [http://www.survivors-fund.org Survivors Fund website]
* [http://www.ibuka.net IBUKA website]
* [http://www.avega.org.rw AVEGA website]
* [http://www.solaceministriesuk.com Solace Ministries website]