Goals and objectives of YWCA Craft Centre:
– To provide training, specially to those who are uneducated and destitute
– To create job opportunities for the trainees
– To develop the export market
– To develop the centre as a model for training and management for YWCA leaders
– To provide social and welfare services
– To establish craft centers in other parts of Bangladesh.
After liberation, there were many widows and other women who found that their families were dependent on them for economic support, but with little or no education or vocational training, employment was hard to find. At that time the Government and many other organizations, including YWCA, started vocational training and employment generation programmes for these women.
With financial assistance from ‘Bread of the world’ and other voluntary help with organization and design, the Dhaka YWCA opened a jute craft centre in 1973. The aim was to provide training and job opportunities for women, especially to those who are uneducated and destitute. The project began with 18 women trainees. During 1976 and 1977 the centre was run with the help of USAID, but afterwards it became self supporting. Since 1977, it has been managed by local staffs. The project expanded in 1982 and received large orders from overseas buyers. But local market sale was relatively small.
Since 1973, about 1800 women have received training on jute cloth and related products. In 1986, there were 122 producers in the centre, now there are about 400 producers at the centre. The Craft Centre is still providing training and employment for women from the poorest areas of Dhaka and the surrounding villages.