Home » Genocide Survivors Foundation’s 2023 Activity Highlights

Genocide Survivors Foundation’s 2023 Activity Highlights

Posted: December 29, 2023
Written by: Genocide Survivors Foundation

As in previous years, Genocide Survivors Foundation (GSF) continued to put our best efforts into advancing our two-fold mission: (1) genocide prevention education and (2) supporting the most vulnerable genocide survivors.

Jacqueline Murekatete speaking to students about the dangers of hate.

The past few years, and 2023 in particular, has seen a historical and alarming increase in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and other forms of hate and extremism around the globe. In addition to the challenges of rising levels of hate, hate-speech, and hate-driven violence, survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda continue to face a host of difficulties, particularly as we approach the 30th anniversary of this tragedy.

Within this frightening context, we are more committed than ever to continue GSF’s work of addressing hate and hate-motivated violence while also supporting the most vulnerable genocide survivors in Rwanda. As a small organization with no paid employees, we see that our work provides significant benefits for those we serve, benefits which often continue to deliver position returns well into the future.

Below are some of our activity highlights for 2023. With your support, we look forward to achieving even more in 2024.

Provided financial support to a partner organization in Rwanda for a number of genocide survivors to obtain mental health treatment.
Paid university school fees for three survivors.
Paid school fees for five children of survivors, and for three of those five, also covered the fees for uniforms, school supplies and school lunches.
Provided financial support to a partner organization in Rwanda to deliver economic support for women survivors who live with the consequences of rape and sexual torture from the genocide.
Provided funding for four survivors in Rwanda to buy daily necessities. These survivors are disabled as a result of physical and sexual torture during the genocide. (Two of them have been bed-ridden since 1994.)
Presented at a high school students conference in Baltimore, Maryland about the dangers of anti-Semitism,Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism and other forms of hate. Provided action steps for students to get involved in fighting all forms of hate and extremism.
Provided financial support for a Kwibuka 29 commemoration program in Rwanda for elderly survivors whose spouses and children were killed during the genocide.
Provided temporary rent payment support (due to job loss) to two survivors in Rwanda.
Provided financial support to the first ever U.S. commemoration program specifically remembering families which were wiped out during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. These families are called Famille Zazimye in Kinyarwanda. The program took place at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Right Museum in Texas.
Helped pay for cancer medication for one elderly survivor in Rwanda.
Paid for eye surgery for an elderly survivor in Rwanda;
Presented GSF’s genocide prevention work and efforts to support genocide survivors in Edmonton, Canada, as part of the 29th commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda.
Provided financial support for income generating activities (small businesses) for three survivors in Rwanda.

We thank you for your continued belief in us and support for our work. We know that with your continued contributions, we will continue to grow and deliver on our mission and goals in even more effective and efficient ways.

Category: News