I kept a journal on this profile last year to give an account of my movements, thoughts and general existance during 5 weeks stay (8th August - 12th September 2007) in and around Delhi. Do read on in the journal 'An Indian Summer' if you are interested.
I am now returning to Delhi for an entire year (leaving on 23rd July 2008) and will be working with the same charity that I visited during my previous trip. Again, I hopefully aim to give an honest and informative account of life there and my experiences of it. This years journal is entitled: 'A Year In Delhi'
The charity is called Asha and is a community health and development society dedicated to helping the urban poor of Delhi. Formed in 1988, Asha works with nearly 300,000 slum dwellers in 46 slum colonies around the city of Delhi, enabling them to transform their lives. It aims to give people living in slums the chance to realise their potential, regardless of their ethnic background, caste or religious beliefs.
"Asha" is the Hindi word for "hope" and this is exactly what the society gives to the people that they serve, above and beyond merely meeting their needs and providing practical improvements to their quality of life. The deprivation and hardship of slum conditions often cause people to feel helpless and leads them to apathy and acceptance of the situation. People can become trapped in a downward spiral of poverty and despair. To counter this Asha has devised a solution that covers not only healthcare and environmental improvements, but community involvement and empowerment. The sort of initiatives that give people living in slum colonies the confidence and the means to make positive changes to their situation. | | | |
