Posted: 24/02/2011
On 12th February, over 120 people gathered at First Ballymena Presbyterian Church to celebrate 10 years of Friends of Asha Ireland. It was incredible to see supporters coming from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland, even from as far away as Tipperary. The sincerity and dedication of those present brought a tremendous feeling of warmth and harmony over the entire proceedings. It was very exciting for those in attendance to realize they were part of an extended family of Asha supporters across Ireland and Northern Ireland. And it was a thrill to meet and connect with so many new friends.
Above: Attendees join in the praise and worship
Asha Founder Director Dr Kiran Martin gave the day’s main address. Her affecting words were very well received by the attendees. Dr Martin spoke of the seemingly impossible challenges and burdens faced by slum residents. She described her own personal journey alongside Asha’s beginnings, witnessing the transformative effect that healthcare and community empowerment were having on slums. She recounted the next stage of Asha’s development, with its successful expansion into financial inclusion and higher education. Thanking Asha supporters, volunteers and teams for their care and hard work over the years, Dr Martin also shared with them her vision to send 5000 slum children to University within the next 5 years.
Above: Dr Kiran Martin & Freddy Martin with Rev. William Sinclair and Rev. George Preston
The spirituality of the occasion was evident in the powerful response to the singing and prayer. Many of those present had previously visited Asha, and there was wonderful exchange among those had experienced life changing encounters at Asha. They felt their time in Delhi had been an inspiration to continue working at home for Asha’s slum communities. Others felt encouraged to visit Asha for the first time after the sharing of these stories.
Above: Interviewees describe their experiences at Asha
Asha is so grateful to First Ballymena Presbyterian Church for hosting the Celebration. We would also like to thank Barney Graham, Gordon Wright, Rev George Preston, the tireless organising committee, the trustees and the many volunteers who made this day possible. We are looking forward to the next 10 years of Friends of Asha Ireland.
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I used to drink too much and beat my wife, and then she died. Asha has helped me to get better and to find work. I was suffering from TB but couldn’t travel to get treatment. I went to the Asha clinic where they diagnosed the TB, and now they check that I'm taking my medicine so I can fully recover.
Devender, Ekta Vihar
