In the narrow, overcrowded lanes of Seelampur slum in North Delhi, 16-year-old Anisa’s story unfolds—a story woven with hardship, and an unbreakable spirit.
Anisa's father came to Delhi many years ago from a tiny village in Uttar Pradesh. Forced to leave his home after being thrown out by his own mother due to constant family disputes, he arrived in Seelampur with nothing but a desperate hope to survive. With no education or skills, he began wire ripping—one of the most difficult and underpaid jobs in the scrap business—just to earn enough to feed his growing family.
Anisa lives in a tiny rented room, along with her six sisters, one brother, and both parents—nine people trying to make a life under one roof. Her father's meagre earnings as a wire ripper weren’t enough, so he took up a job at a grocery shop, earning just ₹7,000 a month (roughly 104 AUD/ put dollars and pounds too). It was still not enough. Watching her husband struggle, Anisa’s mother took it upon herself to help—joining him in wire ripping to support the family. The smell of burnt wires and sweat filled their days, while dreams of a better future seemed like a distant luxury.
Her siblings never had the chance to go to school. Education was a dream they couldn't afford. But Anisa’s mother dared to hope—if even one child could break the cycle of poverty and pain, it would all be worth it. That child was Anisa.
Everything changed when Anisa walked into the Asha Centre in Seelampur in Grade 6. For the first time in her life, she felt safe, seen, and valued. “It was like stepping into a different world,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Asha gave me a place to dream when I had no room of my own, no silence to study, and no one who believed a girl like me could go far.”
At Asha, Anisa learned not just academics, but the values of compassion, resilience, and leadership. With the help of Asha Ambassadors, she began catching up in her studies and soon started mentoring younger children too—paying forward the love she had received.
When the pandemic hit and the world came to a standstill, Anisa stepped up. With a mask on her face and courage in her heart, she became a Corona Warrior—distributing food, helping children continue their learning, and supporting Ambassadors in reaching families in distress. Even when her own family struggled, Anisa chose to serve others.
During her 12th board exams, Anisa worked harder than ever. She didn’t have a desk or even a quiet place at home, but she had Asha. With the help of the Ambassadors, special tutoring sessions, and an unwavering determination, she scored an outstanding 88%—the highest in her locality.
Her success was a revelation to her community. For the first time, people began to believe that a girl could lift an entire family out of poverty, that daughters could also become the pride of their homes. Her achievement became a symbol of what was possible, igniting hope in the hearts of other girls around her.
Now, Anisa is preparing to fulfill her biggest dream—to become an offer in the Indian Administrative Services and serve her country. Asha continues to stand by her side, helping with her university entrance preparation, providing resources, guidance, and belief.
“I want to be an officer,” she says with tears in her eyes, “not just for me, but for every girl who was told she can’t. Asha didn’t just help me dream—it gave me the wings to fly. It shattered the silence around girls' education in my community and replaced it with hope.”