CORR The Jute Works, a trust of Caritas Bangladesh, has been working to develop the lives of unprivileged women in the country for the last 50 years, speakers said yesterday.
They were speaking at a discussion styled “50 years of love, nature and fair trade”, organised for the non-profit’s golden jubilee, at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium in Dhaka.
Sebastian Rosario, chairperson of CORR The Jute Works and executive director of Caritas Bangladesh, presided over the function, where Golam Dastagir Gazi, minister for textiles and jute, attended as chief guest.
Shishir Angelo Rosario, director of CORR The Jute Works, in his welcome address said the organisation started training programmes to go along with the production and export of handicrafts since its inception in 1973.
It began with the aim of providing a permanent source of income for women and widows in the war-torn country. It has since been working for vulnerable and disadvantaged women, disabled and marginalised communities and indigenous communities, he added.
Praising its activities, the minister said: “I appreciate CORR The Jute Works. I am happy to know that the organisation has implemented programmes to improve the quality of life of about 6,000 women over the past 50 years. I hope that many more people will follow in their footsteps and come forward to serve humanity.”
Archbishop of Dhaka Archdiocese Bejoy N D’Cruz added: “Many poor families have been able to achieve family self-sufficiency through this institution. CORR The Jute Works did not buy food directly for the poor but made it possible for them to buy food.”
