During our time in India it’s been a privilege to be able to spend so much time with the wonderful people at the Asha House. I’ve spent a good bit of time documenting what life is like inside this home. Victor and Simini are a wonderful Indian couple that have given their lives to parent, lead and more than anything love the children here. Here’s the first of several posts looking at life inside the Asha House.
The Asha House started in 2007 in a small home in the town of Bahadurgarh about 45 minutes west of Delhi. This past december they moved to a new and much larger home due to their rapidly growing family and the financial difficulties they encountered at the previous home. The new home is located in the same town and is adjacent to the kids school. Best of all to the kids, it gives them access to the school yard in the back after school is out where the kids can play during their play time. Asha means ‘Hope’ in Hindi and why you see the sign as ‘House of Hope’.
This is ‘Roger’. He’s the guard dog and pet to the kids.
This is the boys room. There are 10 boys that sleep in the bunk beds. The little ones sleep in the bottom bunks and sleep 2-3 in a bed during winter, partly due to lack of more beds and partly due to the cold winter nights.
This is the girls room. There are 17 girls plus 3 babies. The older girls sleep here while the babies sleep with the staff in their rooms. Like the boys, the small girls often sleep 2-3 per bed.
There is a posted schedule that everyone follows throughout each day. Victor said to me that he wants to keep them busy and focused, so as to keep the kids out of trouble and teach them discipline.
Simini is a wonderful woman and mother to all the children here. The newest addition to the home is Leah (3 weeks old). She was born 3 weeks ago and is one of 3 babies that live here now. Simini loves taking care of her.
This is Lincy who is one of the staff and caretakers here. She’s cutting the nails of baby Abigail (10 mths).
During the morning while the older kids are in school some of the kids alternate days to help care for the babies. This is Rinky (9) holding baby Abigail, while baby Akhsa in red (11 mths) and Millant (3) play.
The older kids come home from school around 2pm. One of the benefits of this new home is that it is located next to the kids school, so they can walk home.
Victor often prepares meals for all the kids. Prakash (14) helps and learns in order that one day he may be able to help with the cooking.
One of the neat things I saw throughout my time here is that everyone plays a part and everyone helps. This is Tabitha (4) helping Mannu (18 mths) make her way to the lunch room.
The children are all expected to put away their shoes before they go into any room. They use their shoes and sandals until they are basically ready to be tossed. They each have one pair of shoes or sandals until they are ready for a new one.
Before every meal there is a prayer of thanksgiving led by one of the children. This is Nazma (8) being watched by Mannu.
Marry (8) helps Mannu during mealtime. The older kids will help the younger ones eat before they themselves get to eat.
Prakash and Esther (13)
Pinky (14) washes her own plate after lunch time. Every child is expected to wash their own dish and cup and put them away after each meal.
Afternoon nap. This is Harsh (6) and Sandeep (4).
After lunch the children do their chores. Every child is given a different weekly chore. From left to right this is Sonu (10), Ranjeet (12) and Heena (11) carrying down clothes from the wash.
Shanu (7) and Suraj (7) washing their clothes.
Esther
The two oldest girls Pinky (14) and Manisha (13) set the clothes out to dry in the field next to the home. In order to have all the clothes dry at once they hang them up on the roof and also use the school’s field.
Prakash sweeps and washes the entrance to the Asha House.
After the children complete their chores its time to play! From left to right Baghwan (6), Harsh, Shonu, Jyoti (6), Sonu, Sandeep, and Tabitha enjoy a game of jenga.
The older boys left to right Sonu, Emmanuel (9), Suraj, Prakash and Brij (17), love playing soccer. This is especially great for them since they did not have the open playing field at the old Asha House.
Malathi (6), Harsh and Rekah (6) enjoy passing the ball outside during their play time.
Spending time with Victor really gives me a sense of how proud he is of all his children.
Victor spends some time feeding his pigeons which he purchased as an investment for about 250 rupees ($5). He breeds them, raises them and trains them, letting them out every other day to fly. After a few months he is ready to sell some of them. The small ones he sells for 100 rupees ($2), some middle sized ones for 250 rupees ($5) and the large ones for up to 1,000 rupees ($20).
Saniya (6), Baghwan and Rukhsana (5) studying their english words during their study time. The children’s study subjects are typically english, math, science, history, general knowledge, computer, and hindi.
Brij is the oldest of the children, he finds himself a quiet spot outside to focus on his homework.
On our way home Victor took us to the area where he and Simini dream of one day having their own land and having their own building. It is beautiful land only about 20 minutes from where they currently rent. You can see in their eyes the hope, excitement and certainty that they will one day be able to do this.
Thank you for these beautiful pictures of the beautiful life at Asha House!
I am missing them so much and this just transported me back there!
🙂 peace & grace
Thank you so much for these beautiful glimpses into life at the new house. It is so beautiful to see the faces of my babies and see that they are doing well.
Blessings
Gacias a Dios por personas como Victor Simini. Que el Senor les fortalezca y de mucha sabiduria al guiar y cuidar a los ninos. Estaran en nuestras oraciones. Bien hecho el documental, Andres. tus Papis
Thank you all for your comments. It is such a special place and its so great to know so many people have it dear to their hearts! Thank you all for stopping by!
hi,
i want to visit asha house, can i get the address and contact numbers of victor/simini
regards
bhawani
hi bhawani. I’ll email their info.