Internships

In the first year 25 university students from various Asha slums walked into offices across Delhi and Gurgaon to do a month-long internship, during the summer break from college. For many it was the first time they had ever been in a professional environment.

This initiative was possible after the pilot project with F1F9, an innovative financial model building and training firm. The success of this pilot project led to the inception of the Internship Programme.

The students set to work, helping with research and basic office tasks. They learnt how to sit in meetings, how to speak professionally over the phone and also had the opportunity to have casual conversations with office staff over lunch about career paths and how to make it in the competitive Delhi job market. Being exposed to these office environments and meeting working professionals on a regular basis has helped them to become more confident individuals and has given them an added career focus.

Up to October 2021, 436 students have been benefitted from this noteworthy programme. Asha hopes this programme marks the start of new opportunities for the students that will be a turning point in their lives as they finish their education and enter the professional world.

During the Covid pandemic, the internship went virtual using the Asha IT labs in different slum communities.