Hope from 'Asha'

Asha is a community health and development organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people living in the slums in Delhi. Over 4m people live in Delhi's overcrowded slums, where conditions are appalling, basic amenities like clean water and toilets are in short supply, and disease and sickness are rampant. Working with over 300,000 people, asha is bringing about real and lasting change in these slum communities.In 2006, there were a number of trips by Friends of Asha (Ireland) supporters to Delhi to join in with the fantastic work being done by asha.
In February, 13 six-formers from Methodist College Belfast and 3 teachers spent 2 weeks in Delhi, working with local children to refurbish a Children's Resource Centre in Kalkaji slum. This Resource Centre provides a safe and welcoming environment in the midst of extreme poverty and deprivation for the children, a place where they can play, do homework and receive additional tuition. For many it is a real life saver. The team had raised over £9,000 to support the work being done with these needy children and had a wonderful trip, painting bright murals on the walls of the Centre and experiencing the highly infectious and overwhelming culture of Indian life.
During the summer around 20 students from Northern Ireland went to volunteer with Asha, having first fund-raised. Many of these had previously visited during a school trip and were now returning under their own steam and bringing others from university. All got the opportunity to see how asha's work continues to flourish and make a real difference for the slum communities in which they work and to make their own contribution.