Partners of SURF
AVEGA
Started in 1995 by 50 widows of the Rwandan genocide, AVEGA (Association des Veuves du Genocide d’Avril 1994) takes a bold step towards recovery. Realizing that no one was left after the genocide to care for them or their children, the founding women formally organized a charitable organization to provide a means of support and recovery.
With the primary aim of improving the lives of Rwandan widows, AVEGA promotes self-fulfillment and self-reliance through many programs, ranging from social networking to job training and from home construction to peer counselling. Expanding greatly since its founding, AVEGA has spread its outreach over all of Rwanda.
AVEGA is online at www.avega.org.rw.
AOCM
A local organisation legally registered to operate in Rwanda, AOCM (Association Des Orphelins Chefs de Menage) was founded in 2000 to respond to the needs of orphans who survived the genocide massacres of 1994. It was set up to promote the general welfare of orphans. Its membership and staff are themselves orphans who head households.
SURF's support to AOCM started in 2001, building the local organisation's capacity to advocate and give children a voice. AOCM is now an established and reputable, growing child-advocacy organisation. Run by the children themselves, AOCM empowers orphans to take control of their lives and advocate for their rights and requirements. AOCM, like other SURF's partners, works closely and complements the work of IBUKA (the survivors' umbrella organisation), AVEGA and Solace Ministries.
Solace Ministries
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; child care and development programmes; community development programmes; health and relief; capacity building and research.
SURF began supporting Solace Ministries in 2002, specifically to support women and children affected with HIV/AIDS.