Pollywog is a non-profit institution of ADRA Bangladesh. Its purpose is to assist widows, orphans and destitute women in developing basic income generating skills, improving social awareness and self concept, and growing in mental, physical and spiritual knowledge and practice. These goals are accomplished through training programs and the production of marketable handicrafts and healthy food for the overall improvement of the pollywog employees socio-economic status. Mrs. Sondra Spiva was the founder of Pollywog project and started up in 1979 with 5 ladies in her own home. Pollywog derived its name from an American description of a frog or tadpole in its developing stages. Even though Pollywog is no longer a small, developing project, the name still reflects the development of each person that is engaged in its work. One of the main supporters of Pollywog during the years has been Mrs. Muriel Mc Henry. Since 1985 she has facilitated sale of Pollywog products in USA becoming the main supporter. Women come to Pollywog in search of work. They are sad, desperate and discouraged, and most often hungry. When they are given a chance to learn either cross stitching or the making of stuffed toys, it usually takes them about a week before they are able to produce items that is worth something. Perhaps it is a small cross stitch design or maybe its a stuffed doll. This achievement helps them take home a few taka to buy food for their families. A real change takes place. The women stand taller. They look happy. They develop friendships. You should hear them chatting happily as they work. You should also hear them sing when we have devotions prior to commencing the day's work. You should also hear them pray to their friend. Oh, what a change takes place in their lives. From a tadpole to a frog! Yes, and some actually leap right out and go find another job that can give them more than they earn by working at Pollywog.

One of our big challenges at Pollywog is that the more destitute women we take off the streets to teach the art of sewing, the more sewing machines we need. Our machines get old and eventually are beyond repairing and we need to purchase new ones. Doing everything by hand is very slow and time consuming. And although the cross stitching is all done by hand, the toys and other goods are made by machine. As we develop better and more elaborate patterns, the women require an embroidery machine or a zigzag machine, and these are things we just do not have the funds to provide. Each time an order comes in to our group of women, their faces light up and excitement fills the air. We hope that you like our products and that perhaps, besides ordering something, you may feel inclined to give a donation towards the replacement of our sewing machines.