Posted: 10/08/2009
On Saturday, 8th August, a large audience gathered at the India Habitat Centre to celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in Asha's history. 177 students have been successful in gaining places at Delhi University and in other institutes of higher education - the very first time in India that such a large group of students have been admitted into college. Competition for places on university courses is fierce, and these students are now living what was previously just a dream.
The star of the show was Bina Kumari, a resident of Govindpuri slum in Kalkaji. She was not daunted by the presence of Mr P Chidambaram, India's Home Minister, or the many guests present as she stood on the specially-placed step that allowed her to reach the microphone. Bina told of her family's poverty and many problems, her struggle to get an education, and how Asha helped her to gain university admission and everything she needed for the course. She also spoke about the need for gender equality, and received resounding applause as she ended by saying, "with enough determination, no challenge is insurmountable".
Before this, Dr Kiran Martin, Asha's Founder & Director, had welcomed the guests and stressed why Asha's work in higher education was so important. Dr Martin concluded that the evening was a night of equality, of advocacy and, "Most of all, it is a night of hope: for these students, their families, and the countless slum children they will inspire". Her speech was followed by a poignant photographic presentation.
Asha was extremely fortunate to have the Honourable Mr P Chidambaram, India's Home Minister, as the event's Chief Guest. Mr Chidambaram spoke of how, although slums cannot be eliminated, Asha has succeeded in removing some of the barriers to fulfilling one's potential that are inherent in slum life. He said, "Asha cannot take the child out of the slum, but what it has done is started to take the slum out of the child".
Mr Jack van Ham, General Director of ICCO, one of The Netherland's largest development agencies and an important funder of Asha's projects, presided over the event and told how the audience how he had been impressed by the many students he had met in Asha slum areas.
Guests of Honour Professor Deepak Pental, Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, and David Hempton, Alonzo L McDonald Professor at Harvard University, both gave inspiring speeches and emphasised how much can be achieved when people have the benefit of education. HE Mr Rupert Holborow, New Zealand's High Commissioner, and Mr Mohan Tanksale, Executive Director of Punjab National Bank (India's second-largest bank), joined the other guests on the dias.
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The audience were delighted to see 60 students, representing a wide range of colleges and courses, go up in groups to join Mr Chidambaram, Dr Martin and the other special guests as they received their scholarship certificates, and applauded the success of every student who was present. The students represented numerous Delhi University colleges and other institutions, and are enrolled on courses covering languages, arts, science and business - Hindi, Political Science, Geography, Sanskrit, Commerce and Chemistry are just a few of them.
Many of the students' parents were there to witness the happy occasion, and during the dinner that followed, the audience - including representatives of Friends of Asha UK, Ireland and the USA who had flown in specially for the occasion, the Japanese Ambassador to India, Mr Hideaki Domichi, Mrs Polly Holborow, wife of the New Zealand High Commissioner, officials from the ministries of Finance and Home Affairs, and diplomats from the embassies of Ireland, Japan and Australia - got the chance to speak to the students and congratulate them personally.
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I was suffering from Tuberculosis and my son couldn't cope with looking after me so he moved out. The TB got worse and I relapsed. An Asha community health volunteer noticed my illness, made sure I took my medicine and gave me rations of nutritious food. If Asha was not here I would have died by now.
Arshafilal, Mayapuri
