It was two weeks of fun and frolic for the children of Kalkaji slum colony when a team from Methodist College, Belfast worked there in February this year. The team, comprising 16 students and 4 teachers, painted colorful murals on the walls, taught craft and dance, played cricket with the children and taught them Basic English skills, and interacted with the slum dwellers.
Asha shares almost a decade-and-a-half-long association with Methodist College, and they have been sending out volunteers teams to Asha every 18 months since 2001. For this year’s team, headed by Ms Ruth McKibbin, the experience of working with the slum communities was as humbling as it was overwhelming.
Each one of them gained a renewed perspective on the meaning of true generosity, love, compassion, joy and dignity. In the words of Ruth, “The young people from the college have benefitted from being touched by the friendships made at Kalkaji and by the values that Asha stands for”.
The team had the privilege to be invited to the residence of the Irish Ambassador, HE Feilim McLaughlin, for a dinner reception hosted in their honour. To thank the Methody Team for their longstanding commitment and support, Asha hosted a Music Concert of old Bollywood classics sung by Dr Kiran on 12th February 2015. Mr McLaughlin also joined Asha as one of the guests of honour at the concert.
Thank you, team Methody! We look forward to seeing you in 2016.
