We welcome regular and occasional giving to support ongoing activities, but there are special needs for particular projects, including infrastructure works. Find out about our current fundraising appeals and how you can get involved, as well as previous appeals and successfully completed projects, below.
Current appeals
Nutrition programme
The rising cost of living in countries around the world has seen millions of families struggling to put food on the table. In Kolkata, this is a devastating and widespread issue. CRS delivers a nutritional meal, as advised by a professional dietician, for children in the following areas: Topsia, Bibibagan (two schools), Hastings, Sukantanagar, Dum Dum, Gobindo Banerjee Lane, Geonkhali, Kulberia, Brace Bridge and Scott Lane (CSS). These children are not able to get the basic nutrition they need at home and the meals they receive through CRS are essential, giving them the energy to learn and the nutrients to grow.
The cost of providing meals for 500 children over the next year is £7,500, and CRS urgently requires support from local and international partners to maintain this vital initiative. Please will you give today and help ensure children get the nutrition they need to not only survive, but grow and thrive?
Gabbi Basra Bursary Fund
The Gabbi Basra Bursary Fund continues to provide financial help and mentorship for particularly bright students who lack the resources to complete their education. According to Government studies, out of 300 million Indian children of school-going age, only 180 million are in school. 48% of India’s children are not enrolled in higher secondary school due to financial problems.
The fund was set up in loving memory of Gabrina Kaur Basra, known as Gabbi, a joyful and compassionate young woman who took a keen interest in the work of CRS and the needs of vulnerable children. Gabbi visited Kolkata in 2019 alongside a group of her classmates at Derby High School. She spent time at various CRS schools teaching English and doing fun activities with the children.
A huge thank you to all who donated to the fund.
COVID-19 and Cyclone Amphan emergency appeals
In April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India had a devastating impact on families already living below the poverty line. With no one able to leave the house for work, thousands of families faced hunger, with women and children most at risk. Hot on its heels came Cyclone Amphan in late May, which caused widespread flooding and damage, and left many families homeless.
Our appeals raised £17,000 in just four months which was sent to CRS and used to provide emergency relief to around 4,000 families in the urban and rural communities that CRS supports. Working in partnership with the Diocese of Kolkata, CRS gave out food packages and soap to those affected by the lockdown and later tarpaulins and cooking utensils to those left homeless following the cyclone. Efforts now turn to supporting these poor and underprivileged communities as they rebuild their homes and livelihoods, with a focus on children and women. Thank you for your very generous support!
Extension at Pally Mangal
In September 2019 we appealed for donations towards the extension of the CRS centre at Pally Mangal. CRS has been involved with the community at Pally Mangal in the Tollygunge area of south Kolkata since 1996 with a focus on women’s empowerment.
The women were meeting in a small one-roomed building which juts out into the roadway. At one point, the local authorities wanted to demolish it. However, a temple a little further along the road equally juts out and, since the temple cannot be demolished, the community building was protected. In fact, the community committee received permission to construct an additional floor.
We were delighted to receive donations from Paul Stuttle and Jo Whitehead amounting to £2,400. Together with the gift aid recoverable this is sufficient to cover all the costs to build an extra floor. Thank you very much for your generosity, Paul and Jo!
Multipurpose building in Mahamaya
In July 2018 we issued an appeal for £14,000 for the costs of adding two floors to the existing community building in Mahamaya. At the time, the pre-primary age children and women took turns to use the single room for their activities. The vision was to create a multi-purpose building with enough space for a school, medical centre, and a workspace for the women to make products for sale.
We are very pleased to say that, through the generosity of our donors, enough money was raised to complete the project within budget. In total £13,500 was given, of which over £7,000 came from Scargill School in Derbyshire – a commendable achievement for the parents, teachers and children of a small primary school. Thank you to everyone who supported this appeal!