SIRI Jubo Kallyan Sangstha

TAGLINE and NEWs

We are 854 Handicraft Entrepreneurs in a team!

SHE (Smart Handicraft Entrepreneur) is the future!

We contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through our five major programmes.

WHO we ARE

The Strategic Areas to which We Contribute

SIRI began its journey on October 15, 2021, in Kachuahat village of Saghata Upazila, Gaibandha district. It is a non-profit, social development NGO that has been working since its inception toward achieving the goal of "Enhancing Women's Economic Empowerment, Eliminating Hunger and Poverty, and Fostering an Educated, Skill-Driven Society through Sustainable Entrepreneurship Development."

Recently, SIRI has undertaken several projects aimed at reducing unemployment by enhancing the earning skills of educated, unemployed youth and women, particularly those who are directly climate victims. These initiatives enable marginalised communities to establish themselves as Smart Entrepreneurs by digitally marketing their handcrafted products. SIRI also organises training programmes on online outsourcing, Basic English Grammar, and Spoken English Course for youth, women, jobseekers, and online entrepreneurs.

In addition to promoting entrepreneurship, SIRI implements various projects to raise awareness about child rights, gender equality, health, and education. It also supports farmers in adopting climate challenges in agriculture by introducing modern farming techniques, technology, integrated farming, and diversified farming practices.

Stop Abuse, Child Marriage and Child Cyber Bulling

SIRI builds awareness among children, parents, guardians and community members to stop child abuses, sexual exploitations. Through a crucial programme SIRI also promotes blended learning by involving traditional learning methods with ICT based learning for their better education.

Ensuring the Rights of Ethnic Minorities

SIRI works to ensure the rights of women belonging to a minority by caste and creed, social outcastes, Dalit community. We engage these caste groups in social functions, festivals, everywhere to increase their access at par with other people in society. The both female and male are provided support in their earning and better lifestyle.

See Details of our three Wings

Non-Communicable Diseases Pose a Humanitarian Threat

Non-communicable diseases are increasing day by day at all levels, both in rural and urban areas. It can be observed that our daily food habits, mental stress, low physical activity, and drug addiction are particularly responsible for this. SIRI implements some innovative projects related to health and nutrition, which are especially important for vulnerable populations living in char areas and on dams. These projects include initiatives to reduce the risks and impacts of non-communicable diseases and drug addiction.

Research Programme

Currently, SIRI is conducting research programs focused on the digitisation of the Social Safety Net Program and Land Mutation processes. These research initiatives are being carried out with the support of The University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, Scotland, UK.

Social responsibility is our inspiration for supporting marginalised people.

LOCAL CONTExT

Prioritising Disaster-Prone River Basin Area

Gaibandha is a disaster-prone district in the northern part of Bangladesh. Due to Climate Change led natural disasters such as floods and riverbank erosion occur every year, posing a serious threat to daily life and making the victims' lives increasingly vulnerable. Cold spells, droughts, and heavy downpours often leave people jobless.

Nearly 80% of the population depends on farming and/or selling manual labor in the agricultural sector, which is viable for only 7-8 months of the year. Due to the lack of sufficient agricultural jobs, many are forced to remain unemployed or migrate to cities in search of work. Facing these challenges, they often resort to harmful social practices such as Child Marriage, Dowry, Polygamy, Divorce, and Physical Abuse, further worsening the lives of women and children.

Combat Unemployment, Drug Addiction, and Road Fatalities

Youth and women often face unemployment in this decade of globalisation. In this region, another common issue is unemployed young people and adolescents turning to drug addiction as a way to cope with depression. Beyond the agricultural sector, job opportunities are limited, with transportation being one of the few alternatives.

Many young people are drawn to driving unsafe vehicles such as homemade battery vans, easy bikes, and Bhatbhatis (roofless three-wheelers powered by shallow-pump engines, which are highly responsible for road fatalities in villages). These vehicles appear easier to operate and provide instant cash to meet daily needs. However, due to a lack of proper knowledge and driving experience, the risks of accidents and road fatalities are rising steadily.

The issues of unemployment and/or limited income mentioned above often lead the youth to drug addiction, which severely harms their social life. This compels them to engage in criminal activities such as theft, robbery, snatching, and other indiscretions.

Download Organisational Profile.pdf

PROGRAMMEs

  1. Human Resource

     1. Smart Human Resource and Sustainable Entrepreneurship;

     2. Education through Blended Learning with ICTs;

  2. Livelihoods

     1. Sustainable Livelihoods in Changing Climate;

     2. Social and Natural Disaster Preparedness and Management;

  3. Gender and Good Governance

     1. Gender Sensitive Environment for Women’s Economic Empowerment;

     2. Building a Child Safe and Secured Environment by Ensuring Child Rights;

     3. Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance;

  4. Health & Safety

     1. Improving Health, Nutrition;

     2. Eliminating Drug Addiction;

     3. Reducing Road Fatalities;

  5. Idea Generation

     1. Research and Innovation;

     2. Social Enterprise.

Life in River Basins

OUR three WINGs

GOVERNANCE STRUCTUREs

General Council (GC)

The highest authority of the organisation, SIRI, is the General Council (GC), which consists of 21 community members from various levels of society. The GC generally attends the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at least once a year, where they approve various Decisions, the Budget, and the Audit Report from the previous year. They also prepare an Action Plan for the upcoming year. The members of the General Council are actively involved in overseeing different social development activities initiated by the organisation.

Executive Council (EC)

The Executive Council of SIRI is a female-headed board, currently consisting of 4 women and 3 men, out of a total of 7 members elected by the General Council (GC). As per SIRI’s constitution, the board is elected every three years. The Executive Council typically attends meetings three times a year, except in emergencies. The Council provides necessary guidance to the Programme Management Team (PMT) on overall programme and financial management, policy formulation, fundraising initiatives, outcome monitoring, project implementation, financial oversight, and maintaining communication with donor organisations as required. The President serves as the head of the organisation, while the General Secretary of the Executive Council serves as the Executive Director (ED) among the organisational staff. The Executive Council reports to the General Council.

Programme Management Team (PMT)

The Programme Management Team (PMT) consists of five members (currently, 3 women and 2 men), including the Executive Director. The PMT is responsible for making crucial decisions and providing direction to the programmes, projects, and finance teams. The PMT oversees community issues, project support, project outcomes, and sets guidelines for implementing projects. The Executive Director reports to the Executive Council, which provides updates on organisational development at every EC meetings.

Thematic Clarity in Integrated Governance

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