Ankur Kala has been working for 21 years as a women’s co-operative in an extremely poor part of Kolkata. The target group is young, destitute women who have reached the point of living on the streets.  The average age of members is 18 - 25 years.

The women live, study and pray together to build up the confidence to become self reliant. They are self employed through a range of activities including catering, making jams and pickles, batik making, screen printing and tie dyeing. Income from these activities pays wages, and helps to meet medical and education expenses.

Members receive training in small business skills, with the aim of enabling them one day to set up their own businesses. Those who leave to do business on their own remain part of the network, and continue to receive support.

Annie, to whom most of the girls interviewd below refer to, is the founder of Ankur Kala. Annie's hopes are of a brighter future for the poor of Kolkata.

Shajda Khatoon “I am very happy because Ankur Kala is my school and Annie is my teacher.”	Shajda finished class ten at school and joined Ankur Kala in 2006. She found out about the group from a friend. Her family is Moslem; she is 19 years old and not married. She has 4 sisters, 2  of whom are married, 2 who arn't, and one brother. Shajda and another sister are earning money for the family since her mother and father cannot work. There is no money for further study for her but through Ankur Kala she can do open school and continue learning. Shajda says “I am very happy because Ankur Kala is my school and Annie is my teacher.” Her younger sister is in class 7 and until she finishes school Shadja says she will continue to support her and will not marry.
Anjuna Roy “the lifestyle and work at Ankur Kala suits me because I am not physically strained and it’s flexible and relaxed.”	Anjuna came to Ankur Kala in 1997. She had studied until class nine but had fallen ill needing surgery, so she couldn’t continue her schooling. She was really disappointed as she enjoyed studying and knew it was her best chance to succeed. Anjuna heard about Ankur Kala through her Baptist Church and joined the canteen and then the JSP (jam, sauces and pickles) programme. However she fell ill again and felt she had to leave. On realising her talent and dedication, Annie took her out of JSP and got her doing accounts. One of her first jobs was the accounts for a big craft exhibition they held and in doing the task perfectly she gained a lot of confidence and now teaches the basic management courses at Ankur Kala. Anjuna has had to have 3 operations so far, is not married and says “the lifestyle and work at Ankur Kala suits me because I am not physically strained and it’s flexible and relaxed.”
Margaret Saha "because of Ankur Kala I am able to finance the cost of my son’s uniform and books for school"	Margaret has been with Ankur Kala since 2005 and was invited to join by an elderly lady working in the canteen department.  Margaret is married but her husband is in a wheelchair so he was not able to provide for the family. Margaret and her husband have 2 children, a son (7 yrs) and daughter (3 ½). Before Ankur Kala, Margaret used to sell stone products at the market to make money to support her family.  She had a small amount of tailoring skill before she started at Ankur Kala but since the training has become highly skilled and good at developing new products. She says because of Ankur Kala she is able to finance the cost of her son’s uniform and books for school (the fees are covered by the church as he boards at a church mission school). Her daughter will also be able to go to school. Through the work at Ankur Kala, Margaret says she has learnt self confidence. She says before she could feel family pressures getting on top of her but her new confidence has helped this. Her husband helps her with the work while he sits in his chair.