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Survivors' History

Survivors of Torture, International was founded in 1997 as a grassroots nonprofit agency headquartered in the home of one of its three cofounders, Kathi Anderson. The first year of its incorporation, SURVIVORS did not serve clients directly. Instead, the three founders (Kathi Anderson, Bill Radatz and George Falk) spent the year building the organization’s infrastructure so that it would rest on a solid foundation.

They educated themselves on techniques of interviewing and treating torture survivors, researched the size and composition of the San Diego population of torture survivors, expanded the board of directors, developed a mission statement and three-year strategic plan, identified the vision and values of the organization, developed an effective, holistic service delivery model based on resiliency and recovery, established contacts with government on the local and national levels and began seeking financial support. During that year, SURVIVORS was awarded its first grant (and then only source of financial support) for $2,000 from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

With no paid staff, SURVIVORS managed to treat 53 clients in 1998. Four contracted therapists assisted survivors by providing psychological counseling, preparing affidavits to document the psychological effects of torture, and testifying on clients’ behalf at asylum court hearings. As the only organization in San Diego providing this type of treatment, SURVIVORS was deluged with requests from attorneys and other professionals seeking this support for their clients applying for political asylum.

Expanding Services

The opportunity for SURVIVORS to take a major step forward and meet the needs of its ever growing client base came in late 2000 when the organization was awarded a grant from the U.S. government through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). As a result, the organization hired four new staff members and moved out of Kathi’s home into an office with room to provide services and to grow. Agency staff expanded counseling and social services, established more relationships with service providers throughout the county to whom clients could be referred at a reduced cost, and continued to build the organizational infrastructure. Since the receipt of that first ORR grant in 2000, SURVIVORS has gradually been able to substantially increase the range of services offered to clients both directly through the organization and through contracted referrals.

With the help of the ORR grant and other funding, SURVIVORS has increased the amount of time it has dedicated to training and education. For many reasons, torture has been a largely invisible issue. As in most places, relatively few San Diegans knew of the prevalence of torture in the contemporary world and its effects on a local level. The agency developed an approach to education by pointing out the widespread use of torture; opposing torture in any and all circumstances; recognizing the reverberating effects of torture on individuals, families and communities; emphasizing survivors' healing and promoting San Diego to be a safe haven for torture survivors.

The ORR grant also allowed SURVIVORS to formalize partnerships with organizations that provide valuable client services including Casa Cornelia Law Center, an organization in San Diego that provides pro bono legal services to those seeking political asylum.

Conscious Growth

Throughout its expansion, SURVIVORS has been careful to grow methodically. The organization did not want to attempt to offer too many services too quickly, promising more than it could provide. SURVIVORS’ leadership also planned to develop services that did not duplicate existing resources and to partner with established programs when possible. For example, SURVIVORS' leaders decided not to create a food bank, but rather to partner with established food banks to meet clients' needs.

Survivors of Torture, International has changed dramatically from the days of three cofounders working out of a private home. Whereas SURVIVORS initially only offered limited mental health and case management services, it is now able to provide medical services, individual, group and family psychotherapy, psychiatry, dental services, physical and occupational therapies, massage, acupuncture, cooking classes, social activities, case management, and legal support. The organization has grown to eight employees, over one hundred independent contractors, and a board of directors of eleven professional leaders.

Since 1997, SURVIVORS has served more than 650 clients from over 55 countries, regions and territories. SURVIVORS has been acknowledged and supported by members of the local, state, and national government.

Looking Ahead

Survivors of Torture, International plans to continue on its current path, passionately providing services that cannot be found elsewhere in San Diego to torture survivors living in our community. SURVIVORS will continue to bring psychological, medical, legal and social assistance to individuals who feel haunted by the fear and shame associated with their torture and the extreme hardships suffered in flight from their homelands. SURVIVORS will continue to focus on the growth of internal and referred services while maintaining a solid organizational infrastructure.