134 years old, “Women’s Friendly” is a part of Kolkata’s DNA : a completely secular charitable institution that was started to help destitute European women and is today a guiding light for many of the underprivileged women of Bengal, regardless of caste, creed and religion. It continues to operate from the same bungalow in the city centre, and runs on the income of its exquisite needlework : the entire proceeds from sales are distributed for the benefit of the workers. Through educational grants, medical relief, nourishment and soft loans, the community of women is helped to support themselves and their families by earning a decent living, thus fulfilling the objective “to earn with dignity”.