Ilma is a 12-year-old girl living in the Chanderpuri slum community with her mother and two younger siblings. Her parents moved to Delhi from UP around 15 years ago, hoping for a better life, and her father started working as a mason. However, he soon became addicted to drinking, spending all his earnings on alcohol, which left the family struggling. To support her children, Ilma’s mother started doing thread-cutting work, like many others in their community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ilma’s family had to return to their village in UP because they couldn’t make ends meet in Delhi. Ilma’s education stopped, and even when she wanted to study in the village, her father wouldn’t allow it. When the family returned to Delhi in 2024, her father still struggled to find work and began drinking again. Arguments and fights between her parents became common, and one day, her father left, taking all the family’s important documents, including Ilma’s birth certificate and ID card.
The Asha team, visiting the area regularly, found out about Ilma’s situation. They learned that without her documents, enrolling her in school was difficult. Understanding her desire to learn, Asha staff encouraged Ilma to come to the Asha center. With their encouragement, Ilma began visiting the Asha center, where she made new friends and started learning again. She also began attending Asha’s children’s association meetings, where she learned about Asha’s values.
The Asha team has now begun the process of getting new documents for Ilma and helping with her school admission. While waiting to join a nearby government school, Ilma eagerly visits the Asha center every day, where she loves learning and dreams of a brighter future.
