The Australian Government donates local NGO on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2008
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Douglas Foskett, handed over a cheque of BDT 458,000 to Access toward Livelihood and Welfare Organisation (ALWO), as part of the High Commission’s Direct Aid Programme. Mr Foskett said Australia was pleased to support the project as it was specifically aimed at helping destitute women in Bangladesh.
ALWO will provide dress making and hand embroidery training to eighty women from the project area; completion of which will enable the participants to start their own businesses to support their families. The DAP fund will be used to provide each of the participants a sewing machine and Block designs as their initial capital. They will also receive a certificate from ALWO after successful completion of the training.
Mr Foskett was confident the project would help to empower these Bangladeshi women by increasing their contribution to the welfare of their families and communities. He said Australia placed high priority on protecting and promoting the rights of women and commended the ALWO Executive Director Ms Shamima Neela for her organisation’s efforts in this regard. Australia has been ranked second in the world for its Gender Related Development and eighth for its Gender Empowerment Measure by the 2007/2008 United Nations Human Development Report.
Deputy High Commissioner Ms Kilmeny Beckering Vinckers and Senior Political & Economic Officer Ms S Farhana Rahman were also present during the ceremony.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
08 March 2008
For further information please contact:
Senior Political & Economic Research Officer, AHC, Dhaka.
Tel: 8813105, E-mail: [email protected]