Posted: 04/11/2006
Christine Burnett's team of 16 enthusiastic Friends of Asha (Ireland) returned to the UK on 4th November after painting the Asha Centre at Seelampur. On 30th October agitations and protests over the demolitions held up their visit to Seelampur; but the determined team members decided the following day that nothing would prevent them from painting the Asha Centre at Seelampur; and they succeeded!
It turned out that the team had a virtuoso artist among them named Carol, who was responsible for the brilliant drawings on the wall. The others - artists by any standards - filled the beautiful sketches with colours.
The team also taught the Seelampur children to make masks and paint.
Yet again, Radhay Shyam - the decorator who assisted the Global Generation Team - was the hero of the event; he worked day and night for the last two days to complete the work.
The painting work ceased for a brief period on 31st October to celebrate a birthday in the slum! Christine was surprised when a birthday cake was sent to the Centre.
Upon completion of the work, the Centre was inaugurated and as soon as the ribbon at the entrance was snipped, the crowd consisting of mainly excited slum children burst into cheers. Enthusiastic kids danced and sang, and rushed into their new Centre
I was widowed at 25 and left with 3 children – the youngest was just one year old. Asha helped me financially so I could send my children to school and now have a job as a maid. I thought about ending my life but Asha gave me the support to carry on.
Vimla, Ekta Vihar
