Here’s a remarkable story of a young girl from the slums who has seen nothing but great poverty all her life, written in her own words:
My name is Fazia, and I am 23 years old. I live in a slum in Seelampur with my mother and my siblings. We all stay in a single rented room.
It’s very small for a family like ours, and we have to use a public toilet. The drains around our house are always dirty and blocked with garbage. Life here is hard.
In 2017, when I was 15, my world turned upside down. My father passed away after a brief illness. He was our only source of income, and after he died, it felt like everything fell apart.
Our extended family suggested that I should stop going to school and get married, since there was no one to pay for my education. It was such a painful thing to hear. I had dreams, and they were asking me to give them all up.
My older brother made many sacrifices for the sake of our family. He decided to quit school so he could support us. He works long hours as a porter, transporting goods in his horse carriage from morning until night. I know how hard he works to take care of us, and I am forever grateful to him.
While I was preparing for my high school exams, we found out that my mother had a brain tumor. There were days when we had no food because every bit of money went towards her treatment. I was taking care of her in the hospital while trying to study at the same time, and
I felt so helpless. I even thought about leaving school to help the family more.
But then, Asha stepped into my life. They gave me the support and motivation I needed. The Asha team encouraged me to continue my education, and with their help, I scored 96% in my
high school exams. I still can’t believe it sometimes—I was the highest-scoring Asha student in 2020! I’ll never forget the day my results came out and I met Dr Kiran Ma’am. She was thrilled. She hugged me and promised to be there for me always. That was a special moment for me.
Even though I did well, my struggles weren’t over. My mother wanted me to start earning right away. Asha’s team spoke to her and convinced her that continuing my studies would be the best for our future. With their support, I was able to get admission into Delhi University’s Bachelor of English Honours program, which had always been my dream. Imagine my feelings when I was admitted!
Asha covered all my university expenses, and that was such a relief for my family. How can I ever thank Dr Kiran and Asha for providing me with these financial resources?
When I first walked into the university campus, coming from the narrow, crowded streets of Seelampur, it felt like I had stepped into a completely different world. The campus was so beautiful, and I couldn’t believe that I was actually there. I had never interacted with boys before, and the idea of talking to them made me nervous. But in college, I quickly learned
how to communicate confidently with everyone. It was such a big change for me, but it also made me feel more independent and stronger.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my brother lost his job. Asha supported us with groceries and medicines, and they trained me to become a Corona Warrior. I served my community
during the pandemic, helping others just like Asha had helped me.
Asha also gave me an amazing opportunity to intern at Macquarie Investment Bank. It was my first time working in a professional environment, and I learned so much. Dr. Kiran Ma’am
also introduced me to Dr. Jean Peteet, a Professor at Boston University, who teaches me English online from the USA. Her lessons have been so helpful, and I’m so grateful for her support. I also prepared for my IELTS exam with Meta, an IELTS trainer from Spain, and I was so happy to score an overall 7.5 band!
Now, I’m preparing for the biggest step of my life. Through Dr Kiran and Asha’s collaboration with Sydney University, in December 2024, I’ll be going to Australia to pursue my Master of Strategic and Public Relations there. I will be going on a full Asha/Sydney Uni Equity scholarship, wherein 100% of my expenses will be paid.
From the tiny streets of Seelampur to an international university in Australia—it still feels unreal sometimes. But I know I have come this far because of the support of Dr Kiran Ma’am, Asha family, my own family and everyone who believed in me. I’m excited and ready for the next chapter of my life. I ask for your support, your prayers and your blessings as I embark on my journey in Australia.
