Asha’s 50 Student Ambassadors kick-started the New Year on a high note as they vowed to get innovative in expanding the Higher Education Programme in 2015. In a meeting with Dr Kiran and senior Asha Team members on January 10, 2015, the Ambassadors reflected on their work in 2014 and made plans to expand the programme further this year.
It is great to see that the Student Ambassador Programme has grown to include nearly 100 students within a year of its launch. In this meeting the Ambassadors decided to reach out to new slum colonies and encourage the high school students there to connect with Asha and opt for Higher Education. They have set themselves a target of getting 500 students admitted to University this year.
“I believe if we reach out to nearby slums [where Asha is not working presently], we will be able to find many bright students who are not able to pursue higher education due to a lack of knowledge or resources,” noted Shiv Kumar, a student Ambassador from Seelampur slum colony. “We [Student Ambassadors] understand their problems, and are more than willing to lend a hand,” he added.
Encouraging the students to continue their excellent work, Dr Kiran highlighted the importance practicing generosity in one’s life. She introduced the Ambassadors to the ‘Pay It Forward’ model and urged them to replicate and multiply the support they have received from Asha, and catalyse changes in the lives of others. She also discussed the merits of a life filled with gratitude and how it has been proven to improve the lives of people across the globe.
The meeting ended with the students discussing their tasks with great excitement. For us at Asha, the hope and desire is to see young people from slums across the city attending university and transforming their lives.
