The Production Unit at SUF

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8e8e3.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="04696ac0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="172" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Society for Underprivileged Families"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Member 1"><U>Training Report July 2006</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission"><U>The Society for Underprivileged Families in Bangladesh</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Production Unit at SUF"><U>The Production Unit at SUF</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How can I help?"><U>How can I help?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Bright Girls and Boys Project"><U>Bright Girls and Boys Project</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Children helped by Sponsors"><U>Children helped by sponsors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cushion Covers"><U>Products</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://infinitycottage.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://infinitycottage.com"><U>Infinity Cottage Website</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FF9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04500c82dwnjbj.jpg"> <div> <B>The Society for Underprivileged Families</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> The Production Unit at SUF</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="6" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="767" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 192 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="06ff1b50.jpg" border=0 width="241" height="181" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="071d7b80.jpg" border=0 width="215" height="184" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="07686b20.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="07386b20.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 757 WIDTH="733"><div> <U>Products Made</U></div> <bR> <div> The Production Unit at SUF began producing the bags and cushion covers designed and embroidered by the talented Bangladeshi women, who are trained by SUF's tailoring school.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Salma</B> is the Production manager, assisted with design and quality control by <B>Dina </B>and <B>Nasnin</B>. <B>Shelley</B> is the chief machinist, and not only does most of the intricate machine sewing, but also helps train the younger machinists coming through from the tailoring school.<B> Bubli</B>, whose story is told below, is also an expert machinist. Top embroiders like <B>Pushpo</B> and <B>Nasrin</B> are among many young local girls and women who have trained at SUF and now benefit from the contract work they get from the Production Unit.</div> <bR> <div> Australian Volunteer, Jill Atherstone, worked as a tailoring trainer at the Society for Underprivileged Families, in 2003/4. SUF  asked her to find overseas markets for the Production Unit, so that funds could be raised to continue to help educate working children and give them a better chance in life. As Jill has some expertise in the equestrian fashion world, and had been making and marketing equestrian clothing for many years, she trained the girls of the production unit to make equestrian shirts and  started marketing them in Australia and through the website www.infinitycottage.com </div> <bR> <div> SUF applied to the Australian High Commision for a Direct Aid Grant, and was granted enough money to equip the Production Unit with new electric industrial sewing machines, to replace the treadle machines that were used initially.</div> <bR> <div> All the products sold by<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#990033" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://infinitycottage.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://infinitycottage.com"><U><B>www.infinitycottage.com</B></U></A></FONT> are made by the Society for Underprivileged Families (SUF) in Bangladesh, in their Production Unit.  Students and graduates from the Tailoring school are employed there, and their skill and creativity in tailoring and embroidery produce these stunning designs.</div> <div> When you buy these beautiful products, you are directly supporting SUF and Child Rights in Bangladesh.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Case History of Bubli, a Child Domestic Worker</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Bubli was born in Madaripur District in Bangladesh. Her father owned no land and so was forced to work as a labourer, earning very little. The family constantly faced extreme poverty. Bubli went to school for a short time, but had to drop out because her family needed whatever income she could earn to help them simply survive. Bubli tried to help her family by collecting eggs from the villagers and cooking them to sell at the bus station. She worked many hours for very little money. When she was five years old, her family decided to send her to Dhaka to live with an aunt.</div> <bR> <div> In Dhaka, Bubli had to think about finding some kind of work.   After some days, she found domestic work, which paid 300 taka per month, which was sent straight home to her family. A neighbour told Bubli about the SUF school run by the Society for Underprivileged Families where basic non-formal education (NFE) up to grade 8 was provided to the students, free of cost. </div> <bR> <div> Bubli's employer allowed her two hours off every day to attend school, and she loved it. After completing Grade 8 she was admitted into the SUF tailoring section, where she successfully finished the course. </div> <bR> <div> Bubli was now thirteen years old.  She bought a sewing machine from SUF, which she paid for in installments and began work as a tailor. Now she also works at SUF's Production Unit enabling her to earn between Tk. 1500 - 2000 per month.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks to SUF Bubli can now read and write, and support herself and her family as a skilled tailor.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>