Asha is a community health and development society dedicated to helping the urban poor of Delhi. Formed in 1988, Asha works with over quarter of a million slum dwellers in 45 slum colonies around the city of Delhi, enabling them to transform their lives.
“Asha” is the Hindi word for “hope”. Asha aims to give people living in slums the chance to realise their potential, regardless of their ethnic background, caste or religious beliefs.
Asha’s approach
The deprivation and hardship of slum conditions often cause people to feel helpless. This leads to apathy and acceptance of the situation, and people can become trapped in a downward spiral of poverty and despair. Asha has devised a solution that covers healthcare, community involvement and empowerment, and environmental improvements. Combined, these initiatives give people living in slum colonies the confidence and the means to make positive changes that last.
Why Asha is different
Asha’s past and ongoing successes have made it a well known and respected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and an active contributor to discussion on slum policy in India. The Asha model for slum development has the potential to be used in urban poor communities worldwide.
Asha’s methods address deep-rooted social problems alongside those created by poverty. Asha’s model of women’s empowerment has the remarkable ability to motivate, unite and empower poor women from the most diverse backgrounds all over the world. The replication of Asha’s housing rights scheme is the single biggest hope for large-scale urban development and housing for people living in the slums across India and cities all throughout the developing world.
Volunteering
Asha welcomes volunteers from all over the world, regardless of their skills or the length of time that they have to spare. So far, over 270 volunteers have visited Asha’s projects and got involved with our work; nearly all say that it has been a life-changing experience. Many of them find their time with Asha so challenging and rewarding that they come back, often bringing others with them. It’s a great opportunity for people to immerse themselves in a different culture while making a practical contribution to a very worthy cause.
Website: www.asha-india.org
Hello, I have tried to send an aplication form for volunteering the 17 th of november in Asha, but I was not able to send it with a photo.