Author: Karen Laister

Warm welcome to Gumla

Karen Laister Children, Fundraising, UK Friends

In February, CRS Director, Rig David, together with two members of the CRS Executive Committee, the Treasurer, Kevin Roberts, and Member, Probir Ghose, visited Jharkhand.

The multipurpose community centre in Gumla, funded by a donation from the UK Friends Legacy Fund and completed in 2014, is used for a variety of activities to benefit about 250 families in the area. They were met by nearly 150 children from the Swarwagin school and their teachers, who were so excited to receive visitors from so far away.

Rig says “It was wonderful to see the new building put to good use. It is made from concrete and has multiple rooms, as well as toilets – a vast improvement on the two-roomed hut made of bamboo and mud that was used before. The children clearly enjoyed playing in the safe surroundings around the centre.”

 

A trip to the zoo

Karen Laister Children, Visitors

Andy Foulds, studying for a degree in Working with Young People and Communities at Derby University, chose CRS for the professional placement part of the course.

During his time in Kolkata, he led a trip to the zoo one day with 15 children from 3 different CRS centres. The intention was to create an informal learning environment where the young people could gain inspiration to draw some pictures of animals later. And he was bowled over by the quality of art that the children produced!

Inaugration of Nari Dana Production Centre

Karen Laister Buildings and facilities, Nari Dana

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.

There is now a dedicated space for the women to make their products, equipped with a set of new sewing machines thanks to financial support from the German Consulate of Kolkata.

The inauguration started with an opening prayer by Rev Nigel Pope, Presbyter of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Vice Chairman of CRS. Mr. Jürgen Thomas Schrod, the Deputy Consul General from the German Consulate then assisted Rev Pope in cutting the ribbon to open the centre.

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.

After Rev James Gomes, Assistant Presbyter of St Paul’s Cathedral, had blessed the new workspace, the women were delighted to show the guests a range of their products.

From Canada to Calcutta

Karen Laister Visitors

Dr Andrea Mann, Director of Global Relations for the Anglican Church of Canada, made the long journey from Vancouver to Kolkata in in December. She visited CRS projects at Bibibagan, Pally Mangal and Dum Dum, as well as the Nari Dana production centre, to find out about the children’s and women’s empowerment programmes.