YWCA CRAFT CENTRE

Bangladesh

Shati and Monika

Purpose

The aims of the YWCA Craft Centre are to:

provide skill training for women, especially those who are uneducated and destitute
create job opportunities for these women
develop markets, and in particular export markets, for products produced by women at the centre.

Producers

The leadership as well as the producers are all women. Needy women are helped regardless of their religion. For example, the new workers at Savar include Muslims, Hindus and Christians.
In 2005 there were:

30 hand workers in appliqu embroidery in the Dhaka Craft Centre
18 hand workers operating from their homes
46 hand workers at the Savar Craft Centre
22 machinists finishing product in Dhaka
9 store workers
150 workers in YWCA branches in rural areas.
Women may work at the centre or they may choose to work at home. The centre has been independent since 1977 and has proven itself to be adequately managed and viable, although it remains a struggle to find sufficient markets.

In 2009 the number across all centres was 450. It is policy to keep opening new centres and training more women so that they have the ability to earn their living. Those who are disadvantaged through physical disabilities, the poor and illiterate are the target group for these interventions.

Benefits

The YWCA Craft Centre aims to meet the needs of women of all ages who, for various reasons, suffer economic hardship. Although the wage paid is not enough to support a woman with children, significant benefits add to what is a low wage. As well as receiving piece rates for the craft they produce, the women workers have access to a savings' scheme (10% compulsory), subsidised food, health advice and medicines, interest-free loans (up to 35,000 taka after one year's membership), legal advice, recreational programmes, literacy training (must attend for 6 months if illiterate) and work training (new members of Savar had to attend a 45-day course). In addition, the children of the workers have free education in YWCA schools.