“Every student is like a seed which requires care to nurture. Asha is the sunlight, the water and the fertiliser for them to grow,” said Her Excellency the New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Joanna Kempkers while addressing the guests at the New Zealand High Commission on the Celebration of the Excellence of the High School Toppers of Asha yesterday evening.
With the guests from several Embassies, High Commissions, organisations like B’Desir, Macquarie etc and the Asha Board members in attendance, the programme began with a beautiful opening speech by Her Excellency the New Zealand High Commissioner.
Dr Kiran (Founder and Director of Asha) applauded the performance of Asha students from the slums. She elaborated with examples of the challenges the students faced when they were studying for their class-12 exams.
Dr Kiran threw some light on the relationship with the Asha partners since 1988. She also said that more than 2700 Asha students are either admitted in Under graduation courses or have completed their Bachelor’s degree by now and also, Asha is all set to expand. She also spoke about how Asha’s Higher Education Programme helps and supports the young brains of Asha to pursue their Higher Education and career ahead.
She also thanked the partners who have helped Asha, particularly in the Higher Education Programme.
Seema, representing the class-12th Toppers, spoke about her journey and the difficulties she faced and how the Asha Team and Asha Ambassadors helped her to score 91% and secured a seat in Zakir Hussain College of the Delhi University.
Amritesh, an Asha Alumnus who is currently employed at the Macquarie Group, shared how he also fought the challenges with the support of Asha and how important it is to pay it forward and help the younger students to get the same opportunity.
Both the students, on behalf of all the other beneficiaries of Asha, expressed gratitude towards Asha and all those who support the slum communities.
Also, medals and certificates were distributed to the Toppers by HE the New Zealand High Commissioner.
Here are the glimpses:
