Workshops and FGDs

Workshops and FGDs organized under under the project, ‘Strengthening the voice of the women tea plantation workers and their communities to enhance their social protection and rights’ with support from Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI).

Workshop at BCSU Headquarters in Sreemangal: Held on 21 January 2021 at the headquarters of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (BCSU), the lone union of the tea workers, the day-long workshop brought together 21 of its  central committee members and a few project personnel—11 female and 10 male. The central committee members joined from three out of seven valleys and the central office of BCSU in Sreemangl.

Workshop at Mirtinga Tea Estate: Held on 22 January 2021 at Mirtinga Tea Estate in Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district, the workshop brought together 25 persons—18 female and 7 male.

Workshop at Deundi  Tea Estate: Held on 25 February 2021 at Deundi Tea Estate in Hobiganj district, the day-long workshop brought together 19 persons—15 female and 4 male.

Workshop at Alinagar Tea Estate: Held on 26 February 2021 at Alinagar Tea Estate in Kamalganj Upazila in Moulvibazar district, the day-long workshop brought together 20 persons—13 female and 7 male.

Focus Group Discussion (FGDs): Three FGDs were organized at the garden level with members of the panchayets and ordinary tea workers—one in Satgaon Tea Estate in Sreemangal Upazila on 2 January 2021, one in Shamshernagar Tea Estate in Kamalganj Upazila on 21 January and one in Sreemangal on 1 January 2021.

KIIs: A good number of KIIs were conducted with the UNOs of Sreemangal and Kamalganj upazilas, top leaders of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (tea workers’ union), elected leaders in Sreemangal Upazila Parishad and union council in the tea garden areas and some local journalists. 

In these workshops and FGDs 134 individuals (female 84 and male 50) had been brought together. The key objectives of these workshops, FGDs and KIIs were to have elaborate discussions on the contents of the life skills manual for use in life skills sessions of women in the tea gardens, trade union leaders and other targets. All required primary information have been gathered through these workshops, consultations, FGDs and KIIs.