SPECIAL EVENT AT SABALAMBY UNNAYAN SAMITY (SUS)
On 9th December 2004 SUS in Netrakona has organised
a day of special events to
celebration the completion of a successful years partnership
with VSO.
Sabalamby
Unnayan Samity(“a self reliancedevelopment society”)
works with the poorand dispossessed in the Netrakona district
and has a number of projects which aimto help people toimprove
their lives. A large part of their work is with adolescenteducation
and counselling.The handicraft training course is an importantpart
of thework with adolescents. The training course has 56
students and is of 12 monthsduration.
VSO is a British NGO which works with partner organisations
matching volunteers with professional skills to organisations
who have requested help. The volunteers work as advisors
and aim to ensure that the skills transfer is sustainable
by the organization once they have completed their placement.
For 12 months a VSO volunteer has been working with Sabalamby’s
handicraft training team to improve the training course.The
events organised for the 9th. December are designed to illustrate
the changesthat have taken place as a result of the VSO
/ SUS partnership. On the day there will be:
• an exhibition to illustrate how the training course
has changed its approach from
instruction in basic handicraft skills to participant centred
handicraft education.
• a graduation ceremony to acknowledge the achievements
and experiences ofthe trainees
• a fashion show to launch the new products designed
for and by the trainees.
• a mela or fair where orders can be placed and some
products will be for sale
THE EXHIBITION
The most significant outcome of the VSO / SUS partnership
is that the training now emphasises knowledge and understanding
and fosters self confidence andindependence. Through involving
the trainees in all aspects of the designing, making and
marketing process we have, we believe, developed in young
people a capacity which is self sustaining. By working experimentally
and extending skills through a variety of approaches including
trial and error we have developed creative and
problem solving skills in the students. The exhibition will
illustrate what has been achieved and the strategies which
have been used. Through a combination of written information,
photographs, note books, dye record books, student samples
and finished pieces and useing a number ofthemes; improving
quality, experimenting with and testing dyes, designing
etc. we willseek to show how we have structured the course
and put theory into practace.
THE FASHION SHOW
The fashion show will launch a range of new designs which
are the combined ideas of the training team and the trainees.
Most of the block printing, tie dye and batik items will
have been produced using vegetable dyes and the embroidery
done with natural dyed threads. We also have boxes made
from natural dyed bamboo. SUS handicraft section is planning
to increase its use of natural dyes in the future. All the
plants used grow in Bangladesh and most are available locally,
some coming
from students gardens.Shabalamby is aware of environmental
issues and is also developing its farm alongorganic lines.
THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
The ceremony will be for the trainees and their families
to celebrate the successful completion of their training.
At the ceremony they will receive their certificates and
some students will share their experiences of the course.
THE MELA / FAIR
The mela will give visitors an opportunity to purchase products
or to place orders which the students graduating this year
will make if they choose to work for SUS asgraduates. The
proceeds of this sale will be put into a fun to help sustain
the training courseonce the NETS funding finishes in 2007.
