Slum Visit to Seelumpur today, a slum which we are told has a reputation for theft, but we also find has a reputation for a very good welcome. We arrive after a long drive across Delhi in an Asha Jeep, and are welcomed by the local Asha worker, Subodh ( pronounced suboard), the children showering us with flower petals, and marking us all with a Bindi, in the traditional manner. The children and women all explained what they do, and introduced the health volunteers, as well as the children explaining which classes they were in. We were very generously provided with some snacks for lunch, and then shown around the slum area.
Really tight for space, as you see in the pictures below, with new rooms and walls on existing buildings, blocking out the sun in many places.
The young girl (17) on the left, has been making these small dresses to sell.
Water is still hand drawn in many places
Just outside the slum, a waste area, where rag pickers work.
Sometimes the tall buildings will block out the light.
Daughter and mother, in their home.
Getting electricity is not a problem
Stock was bought with an Asha Loan, now repaid, and she has applied for another loan to increase the stock.
the "lanes" can be very narrow.
Wherever you go, someone is watching.
Fantastic to then be treated to singing and dancing by the children, which was quickly followed by a request that we all sing for them. Now, what was that to be? Well, they had just completed an excellent rendition of the chorus "Praise Ye The Lord". Not bad for a predominately Muslim Slum. So we all repeated, the chorus but complete with signing (for the deaf). They learn quickly, it was immediately repeated back, very accurately.
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