Foundation Rwanda

Foundation Rwanda Inc is a USA-based organization, founded in 2007 to support rape survivors and their children in Rwanda.[1] The organization is based in New York, United States of America.[2]

Mission

An estimated 20,000 children were born from rapes committed during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.[3] Considerable stigma surrounds rape in Rwandan society and rape survivors and their children have been severely marginalized by their families and communities. No existing government or NGO programs have been created to support their specific needs.[4]

History

In February 2006, photojournalist Jonathan Torgovnik traveled to East Africa on behalf of Newsweek magazine to develop the story for the 25th anniversary of HIV/AIDS. While there, he met Margaret, a Rwandan survivor who was brutally raped during the genocide, impregnated, and contracted HIV. This horrific story led Torgovnik to embark on a photography project to document and tell the stories of 30 women like Margaret.[5] He learned an estimated 20,000 children were born from rape during the genocide and that their mothers were unable to afford the secondary school fees to keep these children in school. While sympathizing with the ongoing challenges these women and children face on a daily basis, Torgovnik joined with a non-profit professional, Jules Shell to create Foundation Rwanda in 2007 which would in turn help these women.[6]

Work

The Education Initiative

Currently, all of Rwanda’s estimated 20,000 children born of rape will be turning eighteen and be eligible for secondary school. While primary school in Rwanda is free, the annual fee for secondary school is $350, which includes the costs of books, uniforms and transportation.

Foundation Rwanda is however, currently sponsoring the secondary school fees for 830 children with the goal to sponsor 1500 children in 2012.[7] It partners with local NGOs to establish outreach programs throughout the country, which identifies affected families, pays secondary school fees directly to the partner schools, and supplies the necessary books, uniforms, and transportation to enable the children to attend school.

Till date, Foundation Rwanda also connects families to a range of psychological, social and medical services provided by existing local partners.[4]

Maternal Support Services

Foundation Rwanda connects families to a range of psychological, social and medical services provided by existing local partners.

It also intends to grow their network of outreach and support services, by partnering with established organizations such as SURF Survivors Fund, Indego Africa, Avega and Kanyarwanda to provide psychological and medical support and help provide these affected women with access to income-generating activities.

Advocacy and Outreach

Foundation Rwanda uses new media, photography, and video to document the testimonies of women who survived the atrocities committed during the 1994 genocide.

This documentation has been effective, giving female survivors a place for their voices to be heard and furthers the organization’s mission to promote awareness of the consequences of genocide and gender-based violence. The Telegraph (UK), El-Pais (Spain), Flair (Italy), Stern (Germany) and Newsweek International have published articles using the photographs and first-hand testimonies of female survivors.

In 2008, London's National Portrait Gallery recognized one of Torgovnik's photographs, awarding it first prize in its prestigious annual portrait competition.[8] Foundation Rwanda seeks to travel the Intended Consequences photography exhibition to key cities and universities, while using a variety of multimedia tools to create a grassroots campaign to drive online donations, including:

  • A Photography Book: Intended Consequences: Rwandan Children Born of Rape (Aperture, 2009)
  • The Color Rwanda With Hope traveling exhibition & Coloring Book (www.colorrwanda.org)
  • A Traveling University Exhibition: Intended Consequences (Aperture & The Open Society Institute)
  • Intended Consequences Education Curriculum Guide (Amnesty International)
  • Global reading of the Testimonies Campaign, April 7 (www.readingofthetestimonies.com)
  • Public Service Announcement Campaign (print, radio, television & Internet)

References
  1. "Foundation Rwanda Inc - GuideStar Profile".
  2. "Foundation Rwanda - Idealist".
  3. "Statistics on Rwanda | Rwandan History | Resources". Survivors Fund. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  4. Foundation Rwanda. "Foundation Rwanda / Helping Kids Through Education". Foundationrwanda.org. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  5. "Photos: Rwanda's Children Born of Rape - Newsweek". www.newsweek.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12.
  6. "Foundation Rwanda - Survivors Fund".
  7. "School System". Ubuntu Edmonton. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  8. "National Portrait Gallery - Photographic Portrait Prize 2007". Npg.org.uk. 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
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