Author: Karen Laister

Another visit of partners from Derbyshire

Karen Laister Children, Visitors

January saw another visit of teachers from schools in Derbyshire to CRS as part of the long-term partnership between Derby Diocese and the Kolkata Diocese. The teachers spent time at the CRS Education Centres paired with their school back home.

Those who had visited Kolkata before were delighted to meet old friends and see how children have grown and developed. Those on their first every visit to India were overwhelmed by the welcome and the experience.

The photos below are of (clockwise from top left) Bibibagan, Topsia, Brace Bridge and Hastings.

   

   

New appointment at Nari Dana

Karen Laister CRS staff, Nari Dana

There’s a new production manager at Nari Dana, CRS social enterprise: Mr Sankar Das.

Sankar is a Master Weaver who ran a small family weaving business for ten years before being appointed as the production manager of a business unit set up in Murshidabad to manufacture woven and sewn products for export. It employed 48 women, many of whom were trafficked into prostitution in Kolkata.

The Murshidabad centre closed in 2019 as part of a business restructuring but Janet Roberts, who originally set up the venture, recommended Sankar to CRS.

Currently the CRS skills training programme for women and the production of items at Nari Dana focuses on sewing and embroidery, but there are plans for Sankar to introduce weaving training and a new line of woven products. To this end, we are going to purchase some of the looms and equipment from the Murshidabad business.

The photo shows Sankar (left) and Janet (third from left) with some of the women from Nari Dana.

Mahamaya building officially inaugurated

Karen Laister Buildings and facilities, Celebrations, Fundraising, Visitors

There were grand celebrations on 30 January 2020 for the inauguration of the multi-purpose centre at Mahamaya.

The ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of Calcutta, Rt. Revd. Dr. Paritosh Canning.

He was accompanied by guests including Revd. Anita Matthews, one of the Trustees of the UK Friends of CRS, Mr. Peter Routley, a long-time associate of and donor to CRS, teachers from Scargill CofE Primary School, members of the CRS Executive Committee, and visitors from Derbyshire.

There are still some finishing touches to be made to the upper floors but this building will soon be in full use for a variety of activities supporting residents of Mahamaya and surrounding villages.

   

 

Small change adds up

Karen Laister Fundraising

Naresh and Rashmi Ghelani, who run a newsagents in Cambridge, have been loyal supporters of CRS for many years.

As well as the collection box on the counter in the shop, Rashmi makes everyone empty out loose change from their pockets and purses whenever she goes to a family gathering!

In the past ten months these collections have amounted to £360, mainly in small silver and copper coins, all of which makes an appreciable difference for CRS.