Delhi House society

Delhi House Society is Christian Humanitarian Development organisation that has been faithfully working with the poorest of the poor across Delhi for more than a decade. Our main project is Sewa Ashram, located in Narela, north of Delhi. In November 2010, Delhi House Society was awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice, describing the work as “..a modern day Good Samaritan”.

History

The work was pioneered in 1997 by Ton Snellaert who after visiting Delhi in 1996 was challenged and inspired by Isaiah 58 to establish a rehabilitation centre for the poorest of the poor suffering on the streets of Delhi. The initial work was located in Yamuna Bazaar, where Ton would literally pick up the destitute of the streets and provide them emergency healthcare and take them into a loving and caring environment.

The work and team continued to grow and in 2000 Sewa Ashram was established in Narela.

Isaiah 58 continues to be our source of inspiration as partner with the ultra poor on their journey of transformation, and not only connect them with emergency healthcare, but education, skills training and microfinance.

Our Approach

Community Hubs

Our approach to community development is to create ‘community hubs’ that act as a nexus point for people to come together, collaborate and create community led solutions to the challenges they face. Our endeavour is to be a catalyst and to partner with the community on their journey of transformation. Sewa Ashram is committed to serving the poorest of the poor within the context of community life, where one will find meaning, true community, intimacy and freedom. We provide an open door that is not based on religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender. Our hope is to inspire people to develop a better understanding of who they are and their ability to contribute to society. Our aim is provide the services needed to equip people with tools that will lead the ultra poor and their communities to empowerment.

Development Team

Our community development program is based on partnership and service. Its objective is to partner with the ultra-poor in their transformational journey and to care, connect, equip and empower them through self-help groups (Sewa Life Groups). The focus of the development team is relationships. Our development team builds relationship within the community and identifies role models to assist them in caring, connecting, equipping and empowering the community.

Program Team

Ultra poverty tends to be chronic and inter-generational and the ultra-poor are often left out of mainstream development programs. They are the ‘invisible’ parts of the society where multiple deprivations are the norm – health, education, clean water and sanitation – where the deprivations not only lead to persistent impoverishment but also cause future destitution.

Our program team looks to provide the interventions needed, from healthcare to microfinance.

Life Groups

Our Sewa Life Groups are made up of between 6-15 community members and is facilitated by one of our development workers and a community role model. The key focus is building relationship, accountability, capacity and planning a development program for each member in the group. Discussions in the life groups include topics such as life stories, family planning, hygiene, healthcare, living with HIV and TB, financial skills, life skills and social issues. The life groups follow a cycle of care, connect, equip and empower.