Center For Rural Service Society - CRSS

19/10/2025

https://kerkinactie.protestantsekerk.nl/projecten/beter-bestand-tegen-klimaatverandering/

Bangladesh heeft zwaar te lijden onder klimaatverandering. Het land kampt steeds vaker met cyclonen en overstromingen. Hier maken boeren zich geen zorgen over de gevolgen van klimaatverandering in de toekomst, maar over de gevolgen voor vandaag en morgen. Kerk in Actie ondersteunt boerengezinnen om....

16/10/2025

Celebration of International Rural Women's Day by Federations Formed and Nurtured by CRSS

October 15 was a special day — a day dedicated to rural women around the world: International Rural Women’s Day. Considering the importance of the day, Elisha Nari Unnayan Federation and Bhola Nari Shakti Federation, both formed and nurtured by the Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS), jointly celebrated the occasion with great enthusiasm.

Both federations organized discussion meetings in their respective offices, followed by colorful rallies on the main roads of their areas. During the discussion sessions, the federation leaders highlighted the significance of the day, while members of the girls’ clubs also shared their opinions on how rural women can advance further in society.

In their discussions, women emphasized that the time has come for them to step beyond household boundaries and raise their voices for change. They noted that every woman should have the opportunity to earn an income—only then will she gain respect from her husband and be able to ensure a happy and dignified life for her children. The leaders also urged women to participate actively in local committees and engage in social activities so that the once-marginalized rural women can gain greater recognition and respect within society.

The meeting also brought forward several key demands:

Landless and female-headed families should be given priority in the distribution of abandoned land.

Women should not be deprived of their ancestral property or rightful inheritance.

The government should provide legal support to protect women’s rights when necessary.

Women farmers and entrepreneurs should have access to easy-term loans.

Separate marketplaces or digital platforms should be established at the union level for women’s products and businesses.

At the end of the program, the federation leaders resolved to formally submit these demands to the relevant government offices soon.

Through this celebration, the rural women reaffirmed their determination to move forward — with the strong guidance and support of CRSS, which continues to empower women’s groups and federations to achieve equality, dignity, and leadership in rural Bangladesh.

15/10/2025

15/10/2025

🧼💧 Clean Hands, Healthy Lives!

Today, our 21 Learning Root Center students came together to celebrate International Handwashing Day. They learned and practiced the proper way to wash hands and discovered the benefits of hand hygiene in keeping themselves and their communities healthy.

Let’s all remember: Clean hands save lives! 💧🙌

14/10/2025

🌿 Community Impact Update | SURAKKHA Project

We are delighted to share that a Deep Tubewell installation and a small wooden bridge construction have been successfully completed in Bilgabbari village, Jalla Union, Wazirpur, Barishal under the CRSS-SURAKKHA Project.

These interventions are ensuring safe drinking water access and improved communication facilities for nearly 400 households, enhancing their daily lives and resilience.
Our heartfelt thanks to Kerk in Actie, The Netherlands for their generous funding and to Matilda Tina B Baroi dede for her continuous support and valuable guidance in making this initiative a success.
Together, we move towards a safer, healthier, and more resilient community. 💧🌉🤝

30/09/2025

সিআরএসএস প্রচেষ্টা প্রকল্পের ক্ষুদ্র প্রয়াস।

29/09/2025

A model of self-reliance Entrepreneur helps family Stands on their feet’s.

Tara is a respected woman in her community as the owner of a successful fried chanachur selling business. However, she was once trapped in a cycle of poverty, Overburden and poor health.
The catalyst for change in her life was the support of income-generating programs from Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS). Tara Das (31) lives with her family in Harta Union of Wazirpur Upazila under Barishal District. Her husband name is Paresh Mondal (36) and he used to work in a big chanachur making factory as a day labor. He earned very little money and it was hardly able to maintain the family. In that helpless condition Tara came to the CRSS Harta office with one of her neighbors. Hearing about her difficulty, the CRSS staff advised her to join a women's savings group. She joined the MVM Z- Self Help Mothers’ Group. (Jamuna Mohila Samity, Harta village). She received training on Small Entrepreneurship Development & IGA for Z- Mother’s Group. At the training session beneficiaries are asked to visualize and create a plan for aim to bring them-selves out of poverty. T
ara with the guidance of the CRSS field staff came up with a strategy to start a chanachur (Snacks) fried business. Because they had some prior experience of making Chanachur. CRSS extended a helping hand to Tara and granted Tk.25, 000 as MVM IGA loan. With the loan money Tara started chanachur making business, beside her house. She purchased the ingredients and materials she needed to start producing Chanachur. Chanachur is made with flour, dal, oil, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, almonds etc. After packaging her husband sells it wholesale to local market shops. Now their monthly income is Tk.15000. She is proud that she able to take care of her family. She is providing good food, clothes to her children and she wants to repair her house in future. Tara has already gained her self-respect. She hopes that her daughters will be educated and established in the society. Other members of her group are also inspired by witnessing Tara’s improvement as well as happiness in life.
Tara is now an example to society that women can stand on their feet and can alleviate poverty if they want. She says, “Center for Rural Service Society CRSS & MVM gave me a new life. It showed me a new path for survival. Now I am happy with my family”.

28/09/2025

From Disability to Leadership: Ramjan’s Journey

Md. Ramjan Talukdar, from Dakshin Harta village in Wazirpur, Barishal, was born with a disability. He is now 33 years old. His childhood and teenage years were full of neglect, deprivation, and humiliation. His family did not value his opinion, and he often did not get proper nutrition. Society also looked down on him he was not invited to social events, and people in the village treated him with disrespect. Slowly, Ramjan began to think he was useless.
But in 2023 when he joined VDC, things started to change. The president of a local committee encouraged him to join different social activities. At first, he was shy and unmotivated, but step by step, he began to take part in monthly meetings, faith leader gatherings, child protection sessions, and awareness programs. Each activity gave him new experiences and built his confidence.
Now, Ramjan has brought change not only within himself but also in his family and community. His family values his opinions, and society respects him. Most importantly, many people with disabilities are gaining courage by seeing his example. Along with his dedication to work, he has become a role model in society. His dream is to become a volunteer, to stand beside others in need, and to help society move forward. Ramjan’s life proves that disability is not a curse. With the right opportunity, courage, and support, real change is possible. He expressed his gratitude to CRSS and World Vision, saying, “I am forever thankful for giving a helpless person like me the chance to walk from darkness into light.”

19/09/2025

🌍 Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS)
CRSS-SURAKKHA PROJECT
📢 School-based Drawing & Essay Writing Competition on Disaster Preparedness and Environmental Awareness
On 18 September 2025, CRSS-Surakkha Project successfully organized a vibrant Drawing and Essay Writing Competition with Award Distribution Ceremony at Ratnopur Government Primary School, Ratnopur Union, Agailjhara Upazila, Barishal.
🎨✍️ The event aimed to promote school-based disaster preparedness and encourage students to take initiatives for environmental awareness and resilience building. A total of 110 students participated in this exciting competition.
• Drawing Competition: Students from classes 2 & 3
• Essay Writing Competition: Students from classes 4 & 5
✨ Program Highlights:
• Chief Guest Speech: Abul Kalam Azad, Head Teacher of Ratnopur Govt. Primary School, welcomed and appreciated CRSS-Surakkha Project for initiating such an impactful program.
• Awareness Session: Project Monitoring Officer Samir Biswas discussed “What is a disaster?”, explained the seasonal disaster calendar, and encouraged students to prepare for natural hazards.
• Teachers’ Remarks: Assistant Teacher Md. Ali Akber expressed gratitude, emphasizing the importance of preparedness to reduce losses during disasters.
• Field Team Contribution: Field Facilitators Rothin Halder & Jahidul Islam, and Field Organizer Jerin Akter actively engaged with students through awareness activities on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).
🏆 Competition Outcome:
• 20 winners were selected (10 from each group)
• Prizes and certificates were distributed among the winners
• Students expressed that this was the first time they received such valuable knowledge on DRR and CCA, and they found it very important for their lives
👩‍🏫👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The program created awareness among students, teachers, School Management Committee (SMC), parents, and the wider community, building a foundation for a more disaster-resilient future.
📌 The event was organized by CRSS-Surakkha Project in collaboration with Kerk in Actie (KIA), The Netherlands.
✅ Outcome:
School students and teachers are now more aware of disaster preparedness, natural disaster risks, and resilience practices in DRR & CCA.
✍️ Report Prepared by:
Samir Biswas
Project Monitoring Officer (PMO)
CRSS-Surakkha Project

🔖 Hashtags:

18/09/2025

🌱 Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS)
CRSS-Surakkha Project
📌 Training on Climate Change Resilient Crops and Vegetable Cultivation
On 17 September 2025, CRSS-Surakkha Project organized a day-long training on Climate Change Resilient Crops and Vegetable Cultivation at Kuchierper SDF Office of Harta Union, Wazirpur Upazila.
👩‍🌾 A total of 25 Self Help Group (SHG) members from Harta (12), Satla (12), and Jolla (1) unions participated, along with Surakkha Project staff and management team members.
The training was conducted and facilitated by:
• Samir Biswas, Project Monitoring Officer
• Sujon Biswas, Field Facilitator
• Shathi Halder, Field Organizer
• Suvash Falia, Field Facilitator
• Lata Majumder, Field Organizer
• With guidance and support from Kiron Baroi, Project Manager
🌍 Major Topics Discussed:
1️⃣ Climate-smart cultivation of Kandirpar vegetables
2️⃣ Creating floating plots and exhibition plots
3️⃣ Introduction to permaculture & natural production design
4️⃣ Cultivation and marketing of salinity-tolerant vegetables
5️⃣ Use of vermicompost and organic fertilizers
6️⃣ Climate-SMART technologies: hanging sacks, floating beds, line/plot systems, etc.
💬 Participants expressed their gratitude, noting that they had never before received such practical training on climate-smart technologies, new cultivation techniques, and adaptation methods.
🤝 SHG members from Harta, Satla & Jolla Unions extended their heartfelt thanks to CRSS-Surakkha Project and to Kerk in Actie (KIA), The Netherlands for supporting these impactful initiatives.
✍️ Report prepared by:
Samir Biswas, Project Monitoring Officer
CRSS-Surakkha Project

17/09/2025

Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS)
CRSS-SURAKKHA PROJECT
Report on Ward Level WDMC & Volunteer Coordination Meeting
Date: 16 September 2025
Venue: Nagirpar, Bagdha Union, Agailjhara Upazila
The CRSS-Surakkha Project organized a Ward Disaster Management Committee (WDMC) & Volunteer Coordination Meeting at Nagirpar of Bagdha Union to strengthen disaster preparedness and community resilience at the grassroots level. The session was moderated by Mr. Samir Biswas, Project Monitoring Officer (PMO). Also present were Mr. Jahidul Islam, Field Facilitator, and Mrs. Anima Sarker, Field Organizer of Bagdha Union.
In his address, Project Manager Mr. Kiran Baroi highlighted that the WDMC is a legally recognized local-level body formed under the National Plan for Disaster Management (NPDM) and the Disaster Management Act, 2012. The committee plays a vital role in coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents during emergencies.
Key Agenda & Objectives
• Reviewing past disaster events and lessons learned
• Discussing preparedness measures, including early warning systems and evacuation plans
• Coordinating the distribution of relief materials and resources
• Identifying vulnerable populations and ensuring their needs are prioritized
• Planning for post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation
The discussions also emphasized:
• Coordination with higher committees (UDMC & DDMC) for effective disaster management
• Data collection and information sharing on damages and affected households
• Use of contingency funds to meet immediate needs such as food, shelter, and medical support
• Community participation in all stages of disaster management for inclusive and responsive action
Feedback & Closing
During the feedback session, WDMC and volunteer members including Ms. Usha Roy (Ward 7, 8, 9), Mr. Jacob Baroi (Ward 7), Mr. Golam Maula Khan (Nagirpar Bazar Committee), Ms. Laboni Mallick (Salom NGO), and Mr. Kamruzzaman Bakthiar (Volunteer) expressed their gratitude to the CRSS-Surakkha Project for arranging this important initiative. They also extended special thanks to Kerk in Actie (KIA), The Netherlands, for their continuous support in building resilient communities.
Through such meetings, WDMCs are encouraged to take active responsibility in disaster planning, response, and recovery—contributing to safer, stronger, and more resilient local communities.
Reported by:
Mr. Samir Biswas
Project Monitoring Officer (PMO)
CRSS-Surakkha Project