On 08 September 2019, CRS was greatly honoured by a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who was in Kolkata during a tour of India.
After giving a message during the Sunday service at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Archbishop and his wife, Caroline, toured the cathedral grounds where the educational and social service activities of the diocese were on show.
It was a great privilege for the CRS Director, Rig David, to be personally introduced to the Archbishop and his wife.
It was a wonderful opportunity to explain the work of CRS and Nari Dana. He presented them with stoles embroidered by women from Nari Dana.
The Archbishop also blessed the new Nari Dana sales outlet, recently created in Bishop’s House.
At 51 Chowringhee Road, just across from St Paul’s Cathedral, stands a spectacular colonial building. This is Bishop’s House, the official residence of the Bishop of Kolkata.
In April, the Nari Dana Production Centre welcomed visitors from Canada – Kevin Dixon, the Vice-President of Operations at International Justice Mission Canada, a global organization dedicated to protecting the poor from violence throughout the developing world.
The Nari Dana Production Centre was officially opened on 20 October 2017. The Nari Dana project, CRS’s social enterprise, which employs slum women trained in sewing and embroidery to make products for sale in India and overseas, has been gathering momentum over the last few years.
This was followed by a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by the guests and members of CRS Executive Committee, signifying the ray of hope that Nari Dana brings to the lives of the women.