Asha - about us

Asha is a community health and development society dedicated to helping the urban poor of Delhi. Formed in 1988, Asha works with nearly 300,000 slum dwellers in 46 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.

Click here to read some of the things that people have had to say about our work.

Our partners

The efforts of dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters and our partnerships with governmental departments and other NGOs all unite to make Asha's projects a great success. Equally important is the input of people living in the slums - they show inspirational levels of enthusiasm and resourcefulness in their collaborations with Asha, and real commitment to improving their lives. Click here to see our partners.

Thank You Asha

My own parents threw me out of my home at a young age but Asha gave me the training and equipment to earn money and care for my children. Now I'm not dependent on my husbands or sons and I'm saving for the future as well.

Bimla

Community Health Volunteer