A Journey of Hope

I think we need to show you this book in a bit more detail:  Every home needs one on the coffee table!  It is a pictorial essay on Asha with some absolutely beautiful photos.

Sunita and Rani looking through it:

There is an exhibition of some of the photos - which will hopefully coming to the UK in November:

You will be able to buy the book in the UK very soon and all proceeds go to Asha!

Market Adventures

On Sunday we went to a new market, arriving as the stalls set up so it was lovely and quiet to start with.  We had fun on the fruit stall, buying a mix of fruits to try later-oranges, pomegranate,chickoo and an unknown fruit. Clare decided to name it so it became 'Papplenip' as it tastes like a cross between pear, apple and turnip! Great name!

Clare was quite tempted by a pair of trousers.

Once we had exhausted the market we tried a new cafe 'Chatime', all pink, chrome and glass. We were tempted in to trying strange drinks- QQ, fruit syrup with lumps of jelly floating in the bottom which you drank up a wide straw. Mine was cold, milky tea with jelly. I tried to be polite but just couldn't hack it! Switched to qumquat juice instead.Here in India all things seem possible!

Back at the hotel the 'Fruit cleansing' started. Method: First wash the fruit with soap and water. Next wipe it with antiseptic. Then peel it. Finally-enjoy! Ripe chickoo was delicious, but then we tried an unripe one. Instantantly our mouth dried and lips seemed to stick to our teeth. Just the weirdest sensation.

By evening all the team for our second week have safely arrived. Clare from England, Colin and Margaret back from visiting friends in the Himalayas, Janet, Eleanor, Janet, Mel and Steph from a Taj trip and Andy, Julie, Dick, Nigel and I from exploring Delhi markets.

The taxi drivers are loving us! We all troop out of the hotel gate. Not a driver in site. Then one pops his head out from under a tarpaulin tent and we wave fingers across the busy road to show how many taxis we want. They insist you can get 4 in the back of these little green and black Ambassador taxis. Well you can, but only by more of less sitting on each others knees.Still, they usually get you there in the end. ('If you are not there, then it isn't the end'. My adaption from Exotic Marigold Hotel!) We have arrived at all kinds of smart destinations in a scruffy dented taxi, amid the Audis and white embassy cars. Great fun,

Can you sing??

Here is the Video of the Seelumpur children joining in the singing.

Thursday, Seelumpur Visit

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.

Wednesday, Book Launch Day

Tonight saw the launch of the book "A Journey of Hope", a pictorial study of the success of Asha over the last twenty five years.  Held at the British Council, the British High Commissioner. Sir James Bevan,

explained how supportive they have been, and want to be in the future, which was a great encouragement.  Several of the families who had been helped with College Loans also explained how they has been helped.

We did have to dress up again, and this time took some pictures.

Dick excelled himself on the way back.  Nigel had arranged his taxi man to return, if we called him, but DH had not, so Dick sets off down the road looking for the Taxi Rank, which must be here somewhere............... Mind you, after dark, with limited lighting was not fun, and then....... a coffee shop, open, and welcoming, and dh, and everyone else, agreeing that perhaps the first plan was the best, Nigel to get his taxi, and a second car as well...........    got there in the end, but also after a scrummy hot chocolate latte, Indian style, perhaps dh's plan was best after all.

Tuesday, Celebration

Amazing privilege to hear from Shri P Chidambaram, the Finance Minister for India, how he values the work that Asha is doing for the poor, and the transformation that he has seen.  

He has been a very keen supporter and has helped Asha immensely with discussions with the Banks and Government Departments.

Lots of dancing, with individuals explaining how Asha has helped, particularly Firdosh, a young lady from Seelumpur who we then met again later in the week, gave a very moving speech, that we also learnt later, she had practiced for a week in front of a mirror.

Seelampur visit

 

Seelampur was the slum in northern Delhi where I had such a difficult morning in the clinic on my last visit, listening to a number of very sad stories.  One of those stories was about a 15 year old girl who had very severe anaemia.  I understand that she died just a few weeks after my visit.

Today, however was an uplifting time.  It was great to meet Subodh again, the Asha worker here who has such a dedicated heart for his ministry to the poor here.  People call him “Big Brother” as a mark of respect for him, and what he means to them.  We spent many hours with the women and children plus a couple of students. We heard some great stories of the changes in peoples’ lives from despair to hope and contentment. 

Later, we visited many homes, including that of the 12 year old lass, Firdosh, who addressed a large and distinguished audience at the Tribute to Asha  evening on Tuesday (and reduced me to tears in the process!)  Here she is in her tiny home, where she and her sister made us all a cup of chai:

We were later treated to a magnificent dance before teaching them the sign language(BSL) to a song they had sung to us earlier.  We had a wonderful day spent with some amazing people, and were sorry to wave goodbye: