Asha Society

Asha Society Asha gives hope to nearly 1 million people covering 100 slum colonies of Delhi "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. We Are Committed to:

- Working among the poor without discrimination of any kind such as those based on s*x, caste, religion, language, race, colour or other status.

- Being at the forefront of the pursuit of justice and peace for the poor, and dealing

with the systems that make and keep poor people in poverty.

- Challenging oppressive social structures and responding to injustice through non-violence and active peacemaking.

- Empowering the poor to lead full and meaningful lives, and building vibrant communities through the advance of love, neighbourliness, forgiveness and reconciliation.

- Practising a liberating generosity towards the poor and giving them the opportunities they deserve.

The Right Support at the Right TimeNine-year-old Sakshi lives in Asha’s Tigri slum community. Her father earns a small a...
20/08/2026

The Right Support at the Right Time

Nine-year-old Sakshi lives in Asha’s Tigri slum community. Her father earns a small and irregular income by collecting dry leaves and selling them as fodder.

Sakshi spent her early childhood in her village with her grandparents. Although she was deeply loved, she received little support with her education. When she moved to Delhi, she could not read or write at the level expected for her age and had lost confidence in her ability to learn.

Her elder sister, already a member of Asha’s Children’s Group, brought her to the Asha Centre. After assessing her learning needs, the education team began helping her build a strong foundation in Hindi and English.

The Children’s Group gave Sakshi a safe and encouraging place to learn. Teachers and volunteers worked patiently with her, allowing her to make mistakes, ask questions, and progress at her own pace. Gradually, she began participating in class and believing in herself.

After five to six months of regular support, Sakshi returned to school, passed her oral assessment, and gained admission to Class 3.

Today, she is studying in Class 4 and doing well. Her elder sister continues to excel, while her brother is part of Asha’s youth group and preparing for college.

Sakshi’s journey shows how timely guidance, patience, and encouragement can help a child rediscover the confidence to learn and move forward.

We are delighted to share the latest issue of HOPE, Asha’s newly redesigned newsletter.Within its pages, you will meet y...
14/08/2026

We are delighted to share the latest issue of HOPE, Asha’s newly redesigned newsletter.

Within its pages, you will meet young people whose lives have been transformed through education, families whose hopes for the future are growing, and people whose journeys reflect the work taking place every day in Delhi’s slum communities.

Behind every photograph is a real person, a remarkable journey, and a story of hope that your friendship and generosity have helped make possible.

We invite you to read the latest issue and discover these inspiring stories.

Read HOPE here: https://asha-india.org/newsletters/news-for-friends-of-asha-july-2026/

When 21 year old Rakhi came to Asha for antenatal care, her pregnancy had become high risk. She was anaemic, her baby wa...
10/08/2026

When 21 year old Rakhi came to Asha for antenatal care, her pregnancy had become high risk. She was anaemic, her baby was underweight, and an ultrasound revealed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. Despite these risks, her family planned for her to give birth at home with the help of a traditional birth attendant.

Rakhi lives with her husband and his family in a single small room in Delhi’s Ekta Vihar slum community. Her husband earns an uncertain income by playing the drum during the wedding season.

Throughout her pregnancy, Rakhi attended regular checkups at Asha. The Nurse Practitioner learnt that her mother in law made the family’s major decisions and had not allowed Rakhi to register at a government hospital.

At every visit, the Asha team counselled the family about the serious risks of a home delivery. When Rakhi’s husband accompanied her to an appointment, the team carefully explained her condition and encouraged him to support a safe hospital delivery.

The family finally registered Rakhi at a government hospital. However, when doctors advised immediate admission, they became anxious and returned home. During Rakhi’s next Asha checkup, the Nurse Practitioner reviewed her hospital records and once again explained the potentially life threatening risks. With further counselling and reassurance, Rakhi and her husband returned to the hospital and agreed to admission.

Rakhi safely delivered her baby at the hospital. As the baby had a low birth weight, the newborn received critical care and close monitoring. Two days later, mother and baby were discharged in a stable condition. Today, they are healthy and continue to visit Asha for regular checkups.

Across Asha’s slum communities, hundreds of women receive antenatal care, essential supplements, regular monitoring and counselling throughout pregnancy. Women with high risk pregnancies are registered at government hospitals and referred for specialist care and safe institutional delivery.

This careful and consistent support has helped ensure that there have been no maternal deaths in Asha’s communities for several years.

Your support helps Asha protect mothers throughout pregnancy and give their babies a healthier start in life.

Support our work: https://asha-india.org/how-you-help/donate/

A beautiful expression of the Asha Way of Life unfolded in our Seelampur slum community through the Little Teachers Prog...
03/08/2026

A beautiful expression of the Asha Way of Life unfolded in our Seelampur slum community through the Little Teachers Programme.

The children of Bal Mandal became teachers for a day, patiently helping mothers and grandmothers write their names, draw, and learn simple English words. With generosity and respect, they shared what they had learned and discovered the joy of helping others.

The women’s smiles and the children’s growing confidence reflected the power of affirmation, compassion, and connection. What began as a simple learning activity became a celebration of children growing into caring and confident young leaders within their community.

Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, yet many women living in Delhi's slum communities continue to struggle ...
27/07/2026

Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, yet many women living in Delhi's slum communities continue to struggle with poor nutrition, anaemia, and low body weight. Through Asha's Women's Nutrition & Health Programme, women receive freshly prepared nutritious meals, regular health monitoring, nutrition counselling, and ongoing support to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

Last week, the programme was inaugurated at Asha's Seelampur and Mayapuri Centres by Shri Chaudhary Jubair, MLA, and Shri Shyam Sharma, MLA, respectively.

At both centres, the MLAs personally served nutritious meals to women enrolled in the programme and spent time interacting with participants. They appreciated the quality of the meals and praised the programme for addressing an important but often overlooked health need within the community.

Both leaders also commended Dr. Kiran Martin for her visionary leadership and expressed their appreciation for Asha's nearly four decades of dedicated service to Delhi's slum communities.

Together, we are working to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to live a healthier, stronger, and more fulfilling life.

Last week, we bid farewell to Surbhi as she began an extraordinary new chapter in Australia.Raised in Asha's Ambedkar Sl...
23/07/2026

Last week, we bid farewell to Surbhi as she began an extraordinary new chapter in Australia.

Raised in Asha's Ambedkar Slum Community, Surbhi has been awarded the prestigious UQ Asha Scholarship to pursue a master's degree in international relations at The University of Queensland, with full tuition and living expenses covered for the entire eighteen-month programme.

Surbhi is the third recipient of the UQ Asha Scholarship, and with her departure, 13 Asha students have now gone on to study at leading universities in Australia through our partnerships with the University of Queensland, the University of Sydney, and the University of Melbourne.

We are deeply grateful to the University of Queensland for believing in the potential of young people from Delhi's slum communities. This partnership is transforming lives, opening doors to world-class education, and creating future leaders.

Asha marked another important milestone with the inauguration of the Women's Health and Nutrition Programme at our Zakhi...
20/07/2026

Asha marked another important milestone with the inauguration of the Women's Health and Nutrition Programme at our Zakhira Slum Centre, extending life-changing nutritional support to malnourished women in one of Delhi's most underserved communities.

The occasion was especially significant as Shri Harish Khuranna, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), inaugurated the programme at the very same Asha Centre that was inaugurated by his late father, Shri Madan Lal Khurana, former Chief Minister of Delhi, in 1999. More than twenty-five years later, the centre continues to bring lasting change to the community, and today it begins a new chapter dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of women.

During the programme, Shri Harish Khurana connected with Dr. Kiran through a video call and acknowledged her nearly four decades of dedicated service to the people living in Delhi's slum communities. He then personally served freshly prepared nutritious meals, Asha nutrition laddoos, and protein-enriched milk to the women, reflecting the spirit of compassion and service that lies at the heart of Asha.

Through regular nutritious meals, health monitoring, nutrition education, and ongoing support, the Women's Health and Nutrition Programme will help women improve their nutritional status, restore their health, and build stronger, healthier families.

We are deeply grateful to Shri Harish Khurana for his encouragement and support as we continue working alongside Zakhira slum communities to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to live a healthier and more hopeful life.

When Vantika came into the world on 28 June 2024, she weighed just 1.5 kg, far smaller and weaker than a healthy newborn...
13/07/2026

When Vantika came into the world on 28 June 2024, she weighed just 1.5 kg, far smaller and weaker than a healthy newborn should be. Frail and dangerously underweight, she spent the first 15 days of her life in the Paediatric ICU at Government General Hospital in East Delhi, fighting to survive.

Vantika’s family lives in the Lal Bagh slum community, one of Delhi’s most neglected scavenger settlements. Their home is a small tarpaulin-covered shanty, and like many families around them, they struggle each day to survive. Her father, Mangal, earns a seasonal income playing the drum at weddings and scavenges for the rest of the year, while her mother, Savan, became a mother at just 21 years of age.

For years, families in Lal Bagh had little access to healthcare. That began to change in May 2025, when Asha started serving the community through its Asha Ambulance initiative. With regular visits from Asha’s nurse practitioner and health team, families finally began receiving healthcare close to home.

In January 2026, when Vantika was around 18 months old, an Asha community health worker visited her home. They found that she weighed only 6 kg, placing her well below the healthy range for her age according to the WHO growth chart. She was also unable to stand properly, showing signs of delayed physical development.

Asha’s health team immediately stepped in. Her parents received counselling on regular feeding and balanced nutrition, while Vantika was given iron syrup, B-complex, Vitamin D3 supplements, and nutritious laddoos. The team continued to monitor her progress through follow-up visits every 15 days.

At her most recent check-up, Vantika’s weight had increased to 7.5 kg. She remains in the red zone for malnutrition, and her journey is far from over. Yet every kilogram gained is a step towards a healthier future and a reminder that timely healthcare, proper nutrition, and consistent follow-up can change the course of a child’s life.

In communities like Lal Bagh, where poverty leaves children especially vulnerable, families cannot do this alone. With your support, Asha can continue reaching children like Vantika with lifesaving healthcare, nutritional support, and the ongoing care they need not only to survive, but to grow stronger and healthier every day.

On 22 June 2026, a new chapter began for the women of Lal Bagh as Asha inaugurated its new Centre and Women's Health & N...
29/06/2026

On 22 June 2026, a new chapter began for the women of Lal Bagh as Asha inaugurated its new Centre and Women's Health & Nutrition Programme in one of Delhi's poorest slum communities, where Asha has been serving through its Mobile Health Van for the past year. For many women here, malnutrition and anaemia are a harsh reality. They often go hungry, sacrificing their own meals so their children and families can eat. Asha worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality. With the generous support of MLA Shri Jitender Mahajan, the women of Lal Bagh finally have a place where they can receive the nourishment, care, and dignity they deserve. The centre was inaugurated by Dr Kiran alongside MLA Shri Jitender Mahajan, who personally served freshly prepared nutritious meals, Asha laddoos, and protein-enriched milk. The smiles on the women's faces were a powerful reminder that a meal served with love can restore hope and bring comfort to hearts that have endured years of hardship.

Beginning now, women enrolled in the programme will receive freshly cooked, nutritious meals six days a week, helping them regain their strength and improve their health. This programme is already running in other Asha communities, and we hope to reach many more women in need. This milestone would not have been possible without the generosity of our supporters, friends, partners, and the entire Asha family. Your kindness is not only nourishing lives but also restoring health, rekindling hope, and reminding every woman who walks through our doors that she is valued, cared for, and never alone.

A Proud and Joyous Moment for the Asha Family We are delighted to celebrate our dear friend Valerie Alexander, who has b...
16/06/2026

A Proud and Joyous Moment for the Asha Family

We are delighted to celebrate our dear friend Valerie Alexander, who has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King's Birthday Honours List for her outstanding service supporting disadvantaged young people in India.

For many years, Valerie has stood alongside Asha's children and young people with extraordinary generosity, compassion, and unwavering belief in their potential. Through her tireless advocacy, fundraising efforts, community events, and awareness raising initiatives, she has mobilised support for Asha's work and helped secure valuable educational resources, including laptops and learning materials, enabling many young people to pursue their education and aspirations.

This honour recognises a remarkable woman whose kindness, dedication, and unwavering support have touched countless lives in the slums of Delhi.

Valerie, thank you for walking alongside us. Congratulations on this richly deserved honour. The entire Asha family celebrates with you today.


UK in India
New Zealand High Commission to India & Nepal
Australian High Commission, India and Bhutan
Friends of Asha USA
Friends of Asha - Great Britain
Friends of Asha Ireland
AE Publications
Discovery Schools Academy Trust
BHP

Address

Asha Society
Delhi
110022

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5:30am

Telephone

+911126716409

Website

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