Asha is a remarkable woman. Her strength, resilience and courage hold her family and many in her community together. The photo on the left was taken the day after the monsoon ruined her house in 2018. The photo on the right was taken on a much better day.
There’s just two weeks here in Australia until the end of the 2019-20 tax year, and I am writing to ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to ‘Project Help India’
Our cause is simple and powerful. It is love in action, bringing hope and help to others.
This week has been another huge week for us in Northern India. We have had to respond to a huge thunderstorm that has caused significant damage to one of our classrooms in jungle village Parmawala. Repairs will be required prior to 15th August, when classes are scheduled to recommence.
We have also been delivering school work to our 270 students at their homes in the slums. These kids are still unable to come to school due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The home visits give us the chance to check-in on their wellbeing and safety, responding to any pastoral needs that we become aware of.
We are thrilled to hear stories of thanks and appreciation for the impact we are having in the lives of people, and the deep, long lasting change this is having in the broader communities where they live. Take Asha for example. She is a remarkable woman who never gives up. Her resilience, generosity and courage inspire us and many others in her community. Her story gives you a glimpse of what it’s like to live in a slum in modern day India. We consider it a wonderful privilege to be able to help her however we can.
Asha - her family, friends and community
Asha is 36 years old. She is wife of Mr. Sher Singh, a local utensil seller, mother of five children, Aman, Karan, Sandhya, Vivek and Sahil. Asha says ‘Project Help’ has had a huge impact on her life. Asha was suffering from heart disease when ‘Project Help’ took the responsibility of helping her. She had an emergency operation and all of the expenses were paid for by ‘Project Help’. She was previously the cook in our Slum Centre but due to her heart condition she was unable to continue her job. Asha was also a door to door cosmetic seller, earning Rs 30 to Rs50 (60c to $1AUS) per day, but because of her medical condition she could not continue this.
Asha’s son Aman was born with many medical issues and his doctor told them that he would not live beyond 14 years old. But ‘Project Help’ has given Aman the best treatment possible, providing for his surgery and long-term rehabilitation. Aman who now works as a member of our staff team is 20 years old and living a fit, busy and healthy life.
Asha says that her life was full of other hardships too. Her husband was an alcoholic but through the counselling by ‘Project Help’ he stopped his drinking. Asha says that her children were facing lot of problems with malnutrition and no education but these problems have been solved by the programs of ‘Project Help’. Now three of her children are currently getting an education at our Slums Centre. One of Asha’s brothers, Rajesh, was also suffering from some severe medical problems and he was the help of ‘Project Help’ and cured of his condition. Her hardships have continued... In 2018 the thatched roof of her hut was destroyed in the monsoon and that too was mended by ‘Project Help’.
Asha also recalls many people in her community who have been helped in many ways by ‘Project Help’. Through connections with her extended family, ‘Project Help’ has expanded to setting up a centre in a slum community in the city of Bijnor, approximately 50km away.
Reflecting on the impact that ‘Project Help’ has had on her life and family, Asha says that Shine Conference has been a significant highlight helping her to know that she has importance. “This program tells women their purpose of living” she says. She also says that the conference was the only time when she and many women could have a rest, dance and have some fun. She was given a mirror at Shine Conference. She says that when she now looks in the mirror she can take care of herself and is reminded of her value and worth. The conference has helped the women get knowledge about themselves and understand their hygiene and health. Asha says that the first time she had ever seen a sanitary napkin was when she was given one at SHINE.
“The best thing she says was that Shine Conference taught them to live happily in whatever conditions they are in. The lady should know her value, her purpose of life and her strength.”
Asha now shares this message with her friends and other women in her community. The women in the slum highly respect Asha, and come to her for guidance, help and support in the day to day problems that they face.
It is the generosity of our friends and supporters who have made all of this possible for Asha and her family, and so many other families too – thank you!
Please help us this tax time by making a donation. Simply click the pink donate button at the top right corner of this page …and more importantly, do not underestimate the opportunities you have each and every day, to bring hope and help to others - your neighbours, your community and people in your sphere of influence. This is love in action and this is how our world is going to get through these difficult times.
Thank you.