Often, as we wait at traffic signals, we witness children begging and picking rags. The sight saddens us, and thoughts about what happens to these children and where they come from cross our mind. However, these thoughts often evaporate as soon as the signal turns green. 

Desmond Tutu once said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” For these slum children, our heroes, Shaila Brijnath and Neelu Khanna, became that beacon of hope.  Unlike bystanders, they took action to combat this dire situation and gave birth to the Aasraa Trust. Their vision was to replace begging bowls and sacks for rag picking with bags full of books, stationery and joy. 

Aasraa Trust began by winning the confidence of these children and their parents, which, in the words of Neelu Khanna, took nine months – almost like a rebirth. Once that trust was earned, the children were introduced to basic schooling through the Street Smart programme. Besides basic literacy, the Trust provided them with meals, medical support, and shelter. 

Since they started in 2009, our heroes have come a long way. When Shaila mentioned in an interview, “We started small, but we were never afraid to grow,” it serves as a powerful lesson in determination and heroism.