"Asha" means "hope" in Hindi. We give people living in slum areas hope by allowing them to realise their potential, regardless of their background, caste or religious beliefs.
Around 400,000 people in more than 50 slum colonies of Delhi benefit from our work.
Our methods address deep-rooted social problems alongside those created by poverty. We involve community members in every aspect of our work, changing deeply-ingrained attitudes and bringing about positive developments that last. We make a difference to slum dwellers through:
Empowerment…Asha works to motivate and empower people, giving them the confidence and ability to work together and influence their fellow slum residents, council officials, police, school authorities and others. Learn more.
Healthcare…Networks of trained community volunteers provide basic healthcare to their fellow slum residents. They encourage people to keep themselves healthy and to receive the full benefits of healthcare provided by Asha: community-based health centres or mobile clinics, a polyclinic providing a higher level of healthcare, and effective links with local hospitals. Learn more.
Education…Many NGOs provide education for disadvantaged children, but Asha goes further. It motivates and encourages parents to send their children to school, and makes whole communities aware of the value of education. Asha provides textbooks, sample papers, career advice and help with university applications that make a college education an option - something that was unthinkable before. Learn more.
Financial inclusion…A groundbreaking scheme gives slum dwellers the chance to take control of their finances. Unlike microcredit schemes, which form self-help groups and have ‘middlemen’ dealing with banks on their behalf, Asha’s approach allows slum residents to have direct relationships with banks. They can open accounts with zero balance and can benefit from loans at extremely favourable rates, enabling them to greatly increase their incomes and improve their quality of life. Learn more.
Environmental improvements…It's nearly impossible for people to stay healthy if they live somewhere without clean water or sanitation. Asha makes slums safer places to live by helping residents get access to water, toilets, paved roads, street lighting and other amenities. Learn more.
Why not get involved in our work, or find out how lives and communities have been transformed?
Above: Asha women's group members meets regularly and devise ways to tackle problems in their area
Over the last years I've learnt so much. Now I'm studying at Delhi University, and I'm hoping to be a journalist. Thanks to Asha, I have the kind of life and opportunities that most people in slums would never dream of.
Usha, Ekta Vihar
