Larsen and Toubro, the Indian multinational conglomerate which has been supporting CRS activities for some time, donated three new sewing machines. They were formally handed over at the end of April by a senior member of the company’s HR Department. The machines will be used as part of CRS’s empowerment programme which offers skills training to adolescent girls and women. CRS instructors offer year-long courses in tailoring, embroidery and knitting. The women are also taught financial and business management skills so that they can set up their own small enterprises. Khatiza Begum, an instructor at CRS’s Bibibagan centre, said “I am very excited on receiving the new machine and this is going to help more women to take the tailoring course”.
Month: April 2016
Pennies make pounds
Naresh and Rashmi Gelani have been faithful supporters of CRS for several years. They are newsagents in Chesterton, Cambridge, and recently added a CRS charity collection box to the counter in their shop. When the box was handed over in early April, the staggering number of coins took 4 hours to count! In just a month they had raised £267. Donations like this from Naresh, Rashmi and their customers make all the difference to what CRS is able to achieve in Kolkata. Thank you!
Health programme gets new wheels
CRS has taken delivery of a new 4×4 vehicle thanks to a generous donation from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, the leading oil and gas company in India. It will be used as a mobile medical van for the health programme, allowing CRS health teams to visit different locations in both the city and rural areas, and also carry medical supplies to replenish clinics. The vehicle was officially handed over in early April with the Bishop of Kolkata and other members of the CRS Executive Committee in attendance.
Canadians count cash collected for CRS
The Canadian Friends of CRS held their 6th Annual Penny Pot Tea on 2nd April. 72 people gathered at the Church of the Holy Trinity in White Rock, British Columbia, to see the 2015-2016 Penny Pots opened. Over the last year supporters had been putting nickels, dimes, quarters, Loonies and Twoonies in their pots. An incredible C$2,000 was raised. To this was added a further C$3,000 from cheques received from other donors. These funds will be transferred to CRS in Kolkata shortly. During the tea party everyone enjoyed sharing refreshments together including Indian “chai”, Keith’s popular cucumber sandwiches and cakes that guests had brought. Many also took part in a “spin to win” wheel to win Vancouver’s famous Purdy’s chocolates. Items made by women from CRS’s empowerment programme were also for sale.