Last night at The Funding Network, SURF was one of five organisations that presented its project to 200 attendees at a sold-out event at Barclays Wealth in Canary Wharf.

SURF’s project was presented by long-time supporter Felicity Finch (more familiar to many as Ruth Archer from The Archers) who had just six minutes to persuade the audience to pledge funding for the new community centre constructed by SURF in Ntarama. The centre is to be managed by AVEGA, and will give survivors the opportunity to learn new skills and to develop income-generating activities.

It was a great night, with four other charities presenting, including Daniel Craig presenting a project for SAFE (Sponsored Arts for Education). We are thankful to the generosity of the TFN members that our project raised over £10,000 which will not only fund the salary of the centre manager for the next year, but will also enable us to help furnish the centre as well.

The fundraising continues in June as one of our longest institutional supporters The London Oratory School hosts a night with the Charleston Chasers on Friday 12th June 2009 in aid of the Don Bosco Institute in Rwanda. For more information, and to purchase tickets, see here. Then on 14th June is SURF’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal, further information on which wil be posted soon.