This is our history
Aseem ASHA Foundation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit and enrolled altruistic trust which is broadly working in the field of Education, Art, Media, Women Empowerment, and Environment, empowering network in ICT devices and numerous different classifications since 2008. Aseem Asha Foundation has worked extensively at the grassroots level in various areas of Delhi such as Jafrabad, Seelampur, Okhla, Bawana, Savda Ghevra, Dharampura, Nizamuddin Basti slum communities but currently focusing in Okhla for the upliftment of the marginalized. Over the years it has also worked in slum communities of Forbesganj, Bihar and Kolkata, West Bengal.
The current form of Aseem Asha Foundation is the result of various stages of evolution from its humble beginning as one man’s calling in Aligarh Muslim University for a charity and better society. The major milestone of forming Aseem Asha Foundation was the emergence of group Flying Birds of India that was informally established in early 2005 at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia.
Later that same year, children affected by the Gujarat Riot staying in Happy Home and orphanage of Okhla joined it and developed print designs based on poetry written by the Sufi poets Khusrau and Rumi. In 2006, young women of Seelampur Community joined the groupThey produced short documentary films on issues important to their peer group and community. The films addressed such real-life issues affecting them as: girl-child discrimination, need for adequate health care and education, eve-teasing, domestic violence, and changing gender roles in society, amongst many others. These and other such efforts led to the establishment of Aseem Asha Foundation in March 2008.
Since the establishment of the Foundation and giving it a formal structure we have worked with many programs and thousand of people of marginalized society to make small positive difference in the society.
This is our founder
Aseem Asha Usman, a Development Communication postgraduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, is the established Aseem Asha Foundation in March 2008 to formally give shape to his incredible vision for a constructive, inclusive and amicable society.
He had his calling in Aligarh Muslim university where he was pursuing his graduation. While staying in hostel he used to visit Missionaries of Charity, a social service organization founded by Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa. He worked with people affected from Leprosy & Tuberculosis. Later, he become an acquaintance of famous Urdu poet Shahrayar and inspired by his thought-provoking poetry he decided to dedicate himself for the service of people. At that time, Aseem was the editor of “We Care Today” student newsletter, which highlighted the socio-cultural issues of Aligarh, and the money earned from the sale of this newsletter was used for the social service of the needy people.
After graduating from AMU, he took admission in AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia to pursue his PG Diploma in development communications in 2005. Here he was instrumental in the establishing an informal group called Flying Birds of India which went on to train more than 500 marginalized young
women of Seelampur, Delhi in effectively raising their voices. They were trained in making short films and digital stories based on their own issues under the banner of his group Flying Birds of India. They used the skills imparted to self produce short documentary films on issues important to their peer group and community. These films addressed such real-life issues affecting them as: girl-child discrimination, need for adequate health care and education, eve-teasing, domestic violence, and changing gender roles in society, amongst many others.
Aseem also worked on a project “Finding a Voice,” in Seelampur, North East Delhi funded by UNESCO, Queensland University (Adelaide, Australia), and UNDP. His research work has been published in UNESCO publications and other international journals.
Aseem has also worked with music maestro A.R. Rahman on a project named “22 Sufi Khwajas of Delhi”, as well as with eminent film director Muzaffar Ali for his “Sufi Festival Jahan E Khusrau”, and with renowned painter Jatin Das for his National JDCA Film Festival. Subsequently, he had developed an inclination towards various art forms that led to the establishment of Aseem Asha Foundation in March 2008.
The journey continues……