August 23, 2022
Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS) is pleased to announce Etleva Bejko as its new Executive Director, following co-founder and Executive Director Kathi Anderson’s planned retirement on September 30, 2022. Etleva will lead the organization in its mission to facilitate the healing of torture survivors and their families; educate professionals and the public about torture and its consequences; and advocate for torture survivors and against torture.
The Board of Directors is thrilled, after a careful and widespread search, to have found such a qualified and passionate individual to lead SURVIVORS’ vision and mission into the next 25 years.
Etleva brings to SURVIVORS more than 20 years of personal passion, dedication, and leadership in providing direct services to asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees in San Diego. With her demonstrated success in fostering community partnerships, expanding services, and developing long-range planning with local and federal agencies, Etleva is poised to guide SURVIVORS’ future growth.
All of us at SURVIVORS are inspired by Etleva’s expertise and leadership in support of some of the most vulnerable in our community. We are honored to welcome Etleva into this leadership position at SURVIVORS during such an important era, when the need for our services and the opportunity to build welcoming communities for survivors are growing.
Once Etleva accepted, Kathi had this to say: “Having known Etleva for nearly 20 years, I have admired her commitment, professionalism, and talents. I could not be more pleased with the Board’s decision and I am confident that SURVIVORS will be in good hands with Etleva as its next executive director.”
Etleva will be formally introduced to the SURVIVORS’ community of supporters and donors by Kathi at the upcoming virtual Helping Survivors Heal Fundraising event on September 15, 2022. (Click here to register for the event.)
Please help us wholeheartedly welcome Etleva to SURVIVORS.
Jean Greaves
Chair
Board of Directors
Founded in 1997 and recognized by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, SURVIVORS is the only accredited torture treatment center for the estimated 35,000 survivors of torture in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The organization helps survivors of torture who were forced to flee their home countries in search of a safe place to rebuild their lives by providing specialized care and healing services for survivors and their families in their chosen languages. SURVIVORS is an independent 501(c)(3), nonprofit serving torture survivors who have come from more than 90 countries.