A native of a village in Uttar Pradesh (India), Archana, migrated to Delhi some two decades ago. She was in her mother’s womb when the family decided to settle in Asha’s Mayapuri slum community. Archana was born under the guidance of Asha and gradually, joined Bal Mandal (Children’s Association).
“Everybody at Asha centre knows me and I know them. I feel like my second home here. I do not know when I started coming to Asha; it seems like forever,” says Archana. Amongst the four children of Basant Lal (Archana’s father), one girl child got paralysed at the age of 4. The family has been in close touch with the Asha since then as she got treatment in a government hospital.
Archana’s 5-yard shanty is located adjacent to railway tracks. Despite the rumbling and the deafening sound produced by the loud horns of trains, a laborious Archana (17) has never stopped studying. This year, she scored above 80% in her school leaving examination. “Usually children are known to be irresponsible and ignorant towards their academics, but Archana is different. The day Board Results were out, an inquisitive Archana started meeting me every single day asking about the colleges, courses and career options,” says Ms Theressy (Asha Team Leader at Mayapuri).
With the support of Asha Ambassadors, Asha Team and the sincerity of Archana; she has finally got admission to Political Science in Zakir Hussain College of Delhi University.
We wish her luck for this new journey towards her dreams!
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