Tarango - cultural programme

Around 6 we made it to Barisal - disembarking was a bit of a scramble, but we were relived to make it

A quick stop for tea with parathas and vegetable curry to set us up for the day - or at least until our next breakfast...

Paolas pic

Our wonderful driver for the duration took us to the Guesthouse we were staying at.  The location was tranquil, and our accommodation was simple but enough for us, and the peace after the busy boat journey was welcome.

After freshening up we went to our hosts. Kadmbari is a village in Barisal where an NGO named Tarango is going to organise a boat race on the occasion of International Women's Day.

 

Tarango employs around 12,000 women across Bangladesh to weave baskets and handbags from locally produced and dyed jute and sells them in the international market. http://www.tarango-bd.org/

They have had a presence in this community for almost 30 years, and after three decades of employing local women, (they now have up to 800 women entrepreneurs in Kadambari) they have such a vital role in the local economy that Kadambari's men have started to work for their wives because the salary is more consistent and higher than most other local alternatives.

We arrived during the first part of the Cultural program arranged for the 7th - a painting competition for the children of the local handicrafters - which we were relieved not to be judging

rows of well behaved engaged children

the theme was my village - I liked the 360 nature of this picture

best hair-do

The second part of the cultural programme was a singing / dancing competition for the youngsters - this was rehearsed after the painting, and took part in the late afternoon to an ever increasing audience

 

this pair thought Lon was very beautiful!

Some of the best fun was to be had outside of the tent, as there were all sorts of snacks and trinkets available outside - a very festive atmosphere!