How we make a difference
Asha's work has made it possible for thousands of slum inhabitants to transform their lives. For sustainable progress, it's crucial that people are given the opportunity to make changes to their circumstances, and Asha has put in place training and development programmes that allow people to do just that. A joint approach between Asha and the slum communities gives the people the support and confidence that makes the difference between them changing their situation or simply accepting it.
Mahila Mandals
One of Asha's most effective initiatives is the creation of women's groups (Mahila Mandals) in the slums. Asha trains the women to tackle the problems in their community and to create solutions. The issues they address range from healthcare, reproductive health and basic sanitation to community development and organisation. The women are often in contact with government officials, lobbying for recognition of the needs of their communities, and have earned their respect.
Education
Computer literacy programmes for slum children show how Asha's approach encompasses so much more than healthcare. Hundreds of children have now completed computer courses, giving their confidence a massive boost and paving the way for future careers with skills that are increasingly in demand. The initial project was a great success and computer courses are now being offered in the resource centres of all Asha slums. As well as providing practical skills that can help the children break free of the poverty that entrapped their parents, these courses are immensely valuable in giving the children a sense of achievement and pride in what they have done.
Broadband internet is now being installed in resource centres, giving the children a chance to further their knowledge, supplement their school education, and communicate with people outside their slum environment. Several areas now have electronic 'pen-pal' links with schools in countries overseas, giving the children a sense of inclusion and allowing them to practise their English.
English Literacy programmes are now running in a number of slum areas. Children in Government schools are taught in Hindi, one of the factors that creates a gulf between them and their more privileged counterparts. Knowledge of English can open up a number of opportunities for the children as they grow older, and a great many of them are very keen to learn. Volunteers have spent many hours teaching English, and locally employed English teachers are now carrying on their excellent work.
Home ownership
Asha has collaborated with the government to run slum housing projects where housing co-operatives are formed to grant slum inhabitants ownership of plots of land. Firstly, land lots are drawn and the municipal authorities draw up plans for the area. The slum dwellers relocate their belongings to another part of the slum while they get involved in building new homes on the allocated land. They use materials salvaged from their previous homes where possible, and can obtain bank loans for the remaining materials that they need.
New water and sewage connections, drainage systems, street lighting, pavements and community centres are built. The housing co-operative charges residents a fair amount to fund ongoing maintenance of the area. As a result, the settlements become self-sufficient housing estates unrecognisable from the original swampy, dirty, overcrowded slums. The city's government has already replicated this successful model in many slums, and continues to allocate funds for future development plans. The model has become the basis of Delhi's slum policy and has also been used to draft a policy for the whole of India.
See the successes page for case studies on Asha's work.
