Hope for the Destitute Women and Children

Back in September there was a notice sent round

CALLING ALL KNITTERS!

Any level of expertise ! Tell all your friends!

1000 SQUARES for Winter BLANKETS required

I went along to the meeting and agreed to make a blanket rather than just squares for the cause - which turned out to have the rousing name of Hope for the Destitute Women and Children.

At times it is difficult to conceive of, but for a short time in December/January Bangladesh gets cold, more to the point it feels cold as it is damp and gets into the bedding and your bones. Last year was especially cold, and in the countryside there were even deaths.

I went on a mission with a friend to New Market - the place where everything is available in Dhaka, (but takes between 1 and 2 hours to get to depending on traffic) to get some acrylic yarns, and we were off!

 

In progress

oh yeah - I made two blankets - too many pretty colours to choose from

crocheting the edge

 

its not flat or square - I chose the wrong kind of stitch for this kind of project

ta-da

I also added the edges to my friends blanket as she ran out of time

Today was handover day.  Many knitters had made blankets, and others have had local fleeces edged.  A pretty good haul for a two month period.

 

blankets

Dr. Dilruba and her staff

lilac and pink seem to have been popular among the knitters

Women are referred to the Home.  Many are in the garment industry, they come to Dhaka from the villages in their late teens/early twenties, and are sweet talked by men who disappear when they get pregnant.  Others are in domestic service, and the man of the house takes advantage.  Some are raped.

The centre is funded by a German NGO, we could all see there were lots of improvements that could be made, but they are doing well with the little they have.

 These pregnant ladies are making a kantha quilt.  The home houses them in the last half of pregnancy (when the bump is showing) there are some basic classes (literacy and numeracy) and some income generating skills too

 

medicine cabinet

Fatima has been abandoned, she will be adopted soon

 one of the bedrooms for new mothers

pillows for babies and hip dysplasia...things are done differently here for sure

Mum and her two week old boy

 

German NGO that fund the centre

 Daycare - this is provided so the women can get back to work to support their little family

 

we came away, feeling pleased to have been able to contribute in a small way even, but as always overwhelmed by the need...