A YOUNG LEADER IN THE MAKING
Twenty-four- year-old Mahinder lived in Ekta Vihar, R.K. Puram, a slum situated in the heart of Delhi. He called a single room his home, which he shared with five family members. His life was riddled with one struggle after another—from acquiring basic amenities to finding the time and resources for education.
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Seeing Mahinder’s potential from his high grades at secondary school, Asha’s Founder and Director Dr. Kiran Martin helped him transition from a government school to a private school for a higher quality education. Asha helped him with everything from purchasing books to practicing his communication skills. Asha also enabled him to get an education loan, which eased his impoverished parents’ financial burden and helped Mahinder to pursue a B. Tech course in Information Technology from one of India’s premier educational institutions.
Fueled by unrelenting determination, Mahinder went on to become the first child from the slums to receive a full scholarship from one of the top establishments in Australia—The University of Melbourne—where he’s pursuing post graduate studies in Computer Science. After he completes his degree, he plans to secure a job in the corporate sector while continuing to advocate for health and the empowerment of women through his association with Asha. Watch his journey here:
Fueled by unrelenting determination, Mahinder went on to become the first child from the slums to receive a full scholarship from one of the top establishments in Australia—The University of Melbourne—where he’s pursuing post graduate studies in Computer Science. After he completes his degree, he plans to secure a job in the corporate sector while continuing to advocate for health and the empowerment of women through his association with Asha. Watch his journey here:
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A ROLE MODEL IS BORn
When Asha started working in the slum community at Zakhira over a decade ago, a young illiterate Muslim woman named Shazda joined the Mahila Mandal (Women’s Association) despite her family’s orthodox beliefs. Her husband didn’t even know of her involvement.
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Her enthusiasm and dedication towards Asha’s work inspired the team to train her as a Community Health Volunteer (CHV). A keen and diligent learner, Shazda became an integral part of the healthcare program and eventually took over the CHV responsibilities—from conducting family planning workshops to providing door-to- door medical assistance to tracking community member health records.
Shazda worked tirelessly to help others and to acquire new skills, which led her to a promising job at a government-run hospital. Now she contributes to her family’s income and ensures that her children attend school every day. Her hope is that one day they would each aspire to make an impact through work, just like her.
Shazda worked tirelessly to help others and to acquire new skills, which led her to a promising job at a government-run hospital. Now she contributes to her family’s income and ensures that her children attend school every day. Her hope is that one day they would each aspire to make an impact through work, just like her.
FROM EXCLUSION TO EMPOWERMENT
When Farzana moved to Delhi with her husband over two decades ago, she was completely unprepared for the challenges ahead. The couple settled in Chanderpuri slum, where Farzana’s husband found work selling decorative fruit baskets. But with six children, her husbands’ income wasn’t enough to support the family. Searching for help, Farzana learned about Asha in 2000 and joined the Women’s Association even though her husband didn’t support her in stepping out of the house.
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Her situation only got worse when her husband passed away in 2015, leaving her in mourning and with only about 2,500 rupees to survive on, which is roughly $38. “I became socially excluded, but Asha gave me hope. Now, I work as a small-scale tailor while my elder son works where his father did,” commented Farzana.
Today Farzana champions women’s rights in her community and works fervently to educate the slum residents. A proud mother whose children are studying at The University of Delhi, Farzana states, “I am content that my children won’t have the life that I had.”
Today Farzana champions women’s rights in her community and works fervently to educate the slum residents. A proud mother whose children are studying at The University of Delhi, Farzana states, “I am content that my children won’t have the life that I had.”
BUILDING A BUSINESS, REBUILDING HOPE
The mother of five children, Bhuli is a widow living in Tigri slum. After her husband passed away, she started work as a domestic help in various homes. Despite working long hours, she couldn’t sustain the family and even thought of withdrawing her children from school at one point.
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However, after meeting the Asha team she was encouraged to take a loan to start a costume jewelry business. Asha facilitated her loan of 20,000 rupees and secured space in a shop for her to work in. During the day, she would go from door to door in nearby areas to sell her imitation jewelry.
She has now built up a great rapport with her customers, her business is thriving and her monthly repayment of 680 rupees is always on time. She also invests a portion of her savings back into her business. Today she is thrilled that she can send her children to school and wants them to advance to college.
She has now built up a great rapport with her customers, her business is thriving and her monthly repayment of 680 rupees is always on time. She also invests a portion of her savings back into her business. Today she is thrilled that she can send her children to school and wants them to advance to college.