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Women Genocide Survivors Retreat

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Many women survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda still struggle greatly with on-going trauma and more. Building on the successes of the 2017 and 2018 retreats, Liliane Pari Umuhoza (learn more about her below) is again teaming up with Survivors Fund (SURF) to organize a third retreat for women survivors. Held in a safe, welcoming place, and filled with plenty of group activities, self-care, and music, the retreat focuses on trauma and resilience, life-improving strategies and activities, and business and financial planning activities.

Retreat Coordinator: Liliane Pari Umuhoza

My name is Liliane Pari Umuhoza, I was two years old during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a tragedy that took away a large number of my family members. Even though I was too young to remember what happened, I grew up facing the consequences of that atrocity in every aspect of my life. Having access to psychological support helped me in the journey of healing. For that reason, I am determined to do all I can, to make sure that others receive the same kind of support that I was afforded.

In the last two years, in collaboration with Survivors Fund (SURF) and Genocide Survivors Foundation (GSF), I have been organizing an annual three-day retreat that brings together women genocide survivors. Many among those women were raped during the genocide, and contracted HIV/AIDS. Also, a number of them are raising children conceived from rape. During the retreat, through sharing their stories with the guidance of psychologists and counsellors, these women helped each other begin to heal!

At the end of the retreat, one of the women said “Bringing us, women who were raped during the genocide, together is a great initiative; but it isn’t considered by many, but when we meet we feel like we are not alone! We feel connected and happy.” Through this retreat, some of the women were able to share their stories for the first time, 24 years after the genocide! This was a breakthrough for them and it gave them the strength they needed to keep moving forward in the healing journey!

Witnessing the impact the retreat makes on the lives of these survivors, compelled me to organize the third retreat, that will bring together a new group of women genocide survivors, in December 2019. Won’t you join me in changing the lives of these courageous women?

As we marked the 25th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi this year, let us do so with actions. One of the best ways to remember and honor the victims, is to support the survivors. Please support the “Women Genocide Survivors Retreat Program”! You can do so through Genocide Survivors Foundation (GSF), a US-based nonprofit organization that educates people about the crime of genocide and supports genocide survivors.

Remember, no donation is too small, because it is contributing in making these women’s world a better place. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you all in advance for your support!

“Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person.”

Past Women Genocide Survivors Retreats

Read our report about the 2017 Women Genocide Survivors Retreat: Download Women Genocide Survivors Retreat – 2017 Report (PDF)
Read our report about the 2018 Women Genocide Survivors Retreat: Download Women Genocide Survivors Retreat – 2018 Report (PDF)

Fundraising Needs

For some of these women who attended the retreat, it was the first time that they had ever shared their stories. To hear someone being able to tell her story after more than 20 years is one of the greatest outcomes of the first retreat as sharing personal experiences is powerful tool in the journey of healing and resilience.

Many women survivors live in poverty with no means to pay to attend this retreat. As such, we aim to cover all of the costs for this multi-day event.

The cost of putting on this retreat is $150 USD per attendee. That amount covers the following for each attendee:

• Travel to and from the retreat
• Accommodation at the retreat
• Meals at the retreat
• Writing materials for use at the retreat

We cannot make this retreat happen without your support. Donations via Genocide Survivors Foundation (GSF) are tax deductible as GSF is a 501(c)3 registered charity.