The Sisters of Charity came to the Shimulia area, 170 years ago, and 31 years ago they started a handcraft project to try to provide some income for very poor women in the villages. Today there are about 650 women involved living in 22 different villages.  All religions are represented there, and a largish proportion of them are divorced Muslim women.

The situation for the women is difficult: most are landless, there is no opportunity for employment and many live in half finished houses begun by NGOs and the diocese after their houses were lost in the 2000 floods.  Basket orders provide their sole source of income and they suffer when there are no orders.

The baskets are made of grass stalks covered by date palm leaves.  At first this was the only place where these raw materials were used, but they have been widely copied, and sales have been lost to competitors who are close to Dhaka (Shimulia is 6 hours drive away). Raw materials have become more expensive now that there is heavy demand for them. It takes about one and a half hours to make a small basket.

The women elect their village leaders, and they are paid piece rates by the nuns, who manage the marketing.  They also provide air conditioned storage for the rainy season and an adult literacy programme.

Life has improved for the women in that they can now provide food for their families.  Some have invested in cows and some spend their savings sending their children to study.