The Centre for Research and Development (CRD) recently held its annual retreat at CCDB Hope Foundation from 28 February to 2 March 2023. The event was a great success and provided an opportunity for CRD staff to participate in informative and engaging sessions on various topics related to HR policies, business communication, feminist methodology, emotional intelligence, and project management. The retreat also included fun activities such as team-building games, cultural events, and a raffle draw. Participants had the opportunity to network with colleagues, learn from experienced facilitators, and had a good time.

The first day started with a welcoming keynote by Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, PhD Founder & CEO, of CRD who shared insights on how to enhance teamwork and communication in the workplace. This was followed by a brief presentation on the organization's HR and other policies, led by Finance and Admin Manager Md. Shafiul Alam. After the presentation, participants discussed and provided feedback on the policies. Later, Abdullah Al Mamun, CRD's Head of Research and Evaluation and Director in Canada, conducted a session on business communication, covering both internal and external communication. During the session, the team engaged in interactive team-building exercises to foster better understanding and collaboration.

After a delicious lunch, Prof Ayesha Banu, PhD, Director, GGiFI Project presented a ppt of feminist methodology on virtual where team learned about new trends in feminist research and shared best practices with each other. These sessions were incredibly informative and sparked great conversations among the team.

To wrap up the day, CRD team enjoyed some leisure time with a variety of team-building games, cultural events, and a raffle draw. It was a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and have fun with colleagues.

On the second day of the retreat, the session began with a presentation on Project Management by Syeda Amirun Nuzhat, Project Manager, GGiFI. Following this, the CEO gave a presentation on the topic of People Supervision, which focused on effective strategies for supervising individuals. After a break for tea, Abdullah Al Mamun facilitated a session on Emotional Intelligence, which covered the skills and abilities required to understand, manage, and use one's own emotions in a positive manner to cope with stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and resolve conflicts.

During the second session of the day, the CRD team engaged in an open and dynamic discussion about work challenges and how to overcome them. They shared their experiences and discussed potential solutions to the challenges they face in the workplace. The two-day retreat ended with a vote of thanks from the CEO and event organizers.

Overall, the retreat was a great success, and the staff left with renewed energy and enthusiasm to continue their important work. The retreat provided an excellent opportunity for team building and personal development while allowing staff members to relax and enjoy themselves in a beautiful setting.