Street to School -Mainstreaming Street Children

The Aasraa family is thrilled to present a chronicle of its recent events, reflecting our impact and growth.

Within the folds of Aasraa, every triumph, no matter how modest, is celebrated. We seize each opportunity to revel in these  victories and eagerly invite you to be part of our joy.

The crowning jewel of the year 2024 thus far has been the commemoration of Aasraa's 15th anniversary. 

In addition to clebrating this milestone,  this report shines a spotlight on some of the important and enjoyable acitivites our children have been involved in. 

In this prelude, we offer a glimpse of the big and small success of Aasraa. From empowering educators through transformative training sessions to celebrating the academic achievements of our bright minds, we showcase the diverse facets of our work. We also take you on a journey beyond the classroom walls, where our children explore new horizons and enrich their experiences.

As we cleebrate our children and thier achivements, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who has contributed to our cause. 

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF AASRAA

Our journey of 15 years floods our hearts with an overwhelming mix of emotions. From humble beginnings of working with 35 children in a small centre close to a slum communnity in Dehradun to currently impacting the lives of over 9000 children in three districts of the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, the magnitute of the growth has been exponential. 

Each step along with path has been filled with challenges.

Yet, as we pause to refelct, we are filled with a proud sense of gratitude. We owe an immesurable debt of thanks to every supporterans well-wisher who has stood by us. Your contributions. whether large or small, weave together the fabric of our work. 

THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT ENCOURAGEMENT!


We invite you to take a glimpse into the latest happenings at Aasraa and the impact that you have helped us make in the lives of thousands of children. 


STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF OUR STAFF THROUGH TRAINING

Our teachers are the backbone of our interventions. We ensure that every year, they access the highest quality of teacher training so that they are well equipped to deliver the Aasraa promise to our children. 

In January, Aasraa began with a 3-day training session for Teachers and Program Leaders. They received a thorough introduction to the Social Emotional and Ethical (SEE) learning program, generously facilitated by the Max India Foundation (MIF). 

This impactful workshop marks a significant step forward for Aasraa's mission to empower underserved youth. It will guide our future efforts as we integrate the SEE program into our partner schools. 
 

AASRAA WAS AWARDED ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Naari Shakti-Raashtra Shakti Award (close translation Women Power- Nation Power)

On the even of International Women's Day, the Chairperson of Aasraa, Shaila, was awarded this prestigious award by the Governor of the state of Uttarakhand to mark the impact Aasraa and interventions have made on thousands of children. 


OUR CHILDREN APPEAR FOR BOARD EXAMS!

In March 2024, 95 students from Class 10 and 45 students from Class 12 appeared for their board examinations.

The children have put in great efforts, and we are eagerly waiting for the results. 

OUR BRIGHT MINDS 

Hema from class 6 and Khushbu from class 8 from our government partner schools, were awarded the Chief Minister's Meritorious Student Incentive Scholarship and National Mean-cum-Merit Scholarship respectively. 

Hema, a shining star in her school, is set to receive a monthly scholarship until she completes eighth grade, a testament to her dedication and academic prowess. As the Prefect, she inspires her classmates with her exemplary leadership. Meanwhile, Khushbu, another diligent and bright student, also leads her school as the Prefect. We celebrate Khushbu's remarkable accomplishments, confident that she will continue to dazzle us with her brilliance. Congratulations to both of our partner schools for nurturing such exceptional talent!


TAKING LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Along with studies, Aasraa's approach to education emphasizes the need for children to experence learning out side of the classroom.

42 girls and 32 boys from our Shelter Homes went on for an enriching educational tour to Delhi, the capital of India, in March 2024. It was a post-board exam getaway to have a fun learning experience and connect with our cultural heritage.

Additionally, a group of 115 students embarked on a two-day exposure trip to Mussoorie, Dehradun at Himalayan Adventure Institute of Mountaineering.   

A COLLABORATION WITH SKECHERS INDIA 

On the completion of the Community Goal Challenge, which highlighted the necessiry of walking for fitness, Skechers India donated 100 paird of shoes for our children. 

Indian actors, Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf delighted the studetns by handing over the shoes to them at a gala function. 
This initiative promotes healthy lifestyle and our children absolutely loved participating in the event.

Aasraa’s Empowerment Express!

We welcome you to read the inspirational and impactful stories in this report, brought to you by the sheer commitment of Team Aasraa and our pledge to continue working towards a brighter tomorrow for the children and youth of Uttarakhand.

‘Empowerment Express’ symbolizes our momentum, showcased by the initiation of a new project in collaboration with the state government to extend education to children on construction sites.

In this report, you'll discover stories of hope – from rescuing children to our impactful relief efforts during the dengue outbreak, student achievements, and the recognition we've earned.

We express gratitude to our donors, well-wishers, and the dedicated Aasraa team for fuelling our success. Join us as we navigate the chapters of Empowerment Express, celebrating strides toward a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

+1 to our Fleet of Mobile Learning Buses

On 16th September 2023, Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Mr. Dhami, inaugurated two Mobile Learning Centres (Buses). One of these mobile classrooms is run by Aasraa Trust to provide access to education for the children living on construction sites, rescued from child labour and to mainstream them to formal education. The project is sponsored by the Uttarakhand Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. This initiative brings the children of Dehradun's labourer and migrant construction workers into the fold of education and encourages them to take the first step towards their educational journey. This is more than a project; it’s a symbol of momentum and a catalyst for change.

Rescuing Little Souls from Child Labor and Child Abuse

Aasraa's outreach team continues to work towards preventing children from falling victim to child labor and child abuse, rescuing them from the streets and embedding them in our literacy initiatives. In the past year alone, we have rescued over 95 children and incorporated them into our programs.

Our Relief Response: The Fight with Dengue

When Dehradun faced a severe dengue outbreak at the onset of winter months, Aasraa’s Medical Team emerged as the frontline heroes. Working tirelessly 24x7, they provided assistance to over 60 cases, with 15+ cases requiring hospitalization.

Student Achievements

- Sapna and Raman, our students at Sanatan Dharma Inter College, one of Aasraa’s government partner schools, achieved outstanding success at state-level competitions in athletics, literary and cultural competitions and bagged 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

- Deepak, our 11th-grade Badminton star, secured 3rd place in singles and doubles at the Uttarakhand State Deaf Badminton Championship.

We burst with pride, rejoicing in these incredible achievements!

Recognition of Our Work

Aasraa Trust has been presented with accolades – the Mahatma Award 2023 for Social Good and Impact, Uttarakhand Educators’ Award, India CSR Award, and recognition as one of the Top 20 Best NGOs of the Year. Our impact in being felt and celebrated on a grand scale and we are filled with immense gratitude and encouragement.

The Career Guru Closing Ceremony

Students coming from challenging backgrounds do not always have access to resources and guidance to help them make suitable career choices. This hinders their future prospects as capable individuals who are able to provide for themselves and their families. We identified that teachers at government schools were the best resources that could be utilised to counsel children at a young age and help them make informed decisions with regard to the career they would like to pursue. This thought was the seed for the launch of The Career Guru program. Over 200 teachers from five districts of the state were trained to be Master Career Guides. The online counselling and career guidance program by Aasra Trust, in collaboration with the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF) and the Government of Uttarakhand, marked its successful conclusion on 23^rd December 2023. The program, consisting of 8 virtual sessions, aimed to equip teachers with essential skills to guide over 1000 students from government schools in the state. Additionally, a Tamanna Aptitude Test, developed in collaboration with NCERT, was administered to 500 senior secondary students, facilitating the identification of strengths and abilities for informed decision-making regarding future education and career paths.

Gyaan Manthan Mela 3.0

The Gyaan Manthan Mela, organized by Aasraa Trust in December 2023, showcased science and math-related models by students from over 30 schools in Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar. It is an event for the children under Aasraa to come together and showcase their spirit as young innovators. Their incredible talent was displayed as they assembled live models and performed experiments on the spot. With an objective of fostering curiosity, inspiring creativity and igniting imagination in young minds, this initiative encourages children to go beyond classrooms and find solutions around us with what is readily available by means of a Tinkering Lab.

Annual Employee Appreciation Day

On November 10, 2023, in a moving celebration, we turned the spotlight on our incredible team. Their dedication and hard work are the driving force behind Aasraa’s achievements.

On this special occasion of Employee Appreciation Day, our organization came alive with the rhythm and joy of various dance performances, marking a vibrant celebration of our dedicated team's unwavering commitment.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our employees who have played a pivotal role in the well-being of the children we serve. We thank them for being the heart and soul of our organization and for making a significant difference in the world.

Aasraa extends gratitude to donors, well-wishers, the Aasraa team, and everyone supporting the mission of ensuring the empowerment of the underserved.

Onwards and upwards from here!