Asha Kiran Ashram – Special Needs School

With the financial support of HHI UK,  Asha Kiran Ashram was founded in 2009 by Pastor Santhosh Kumar.  See a video here.

Pastor Santhosh vision was for a centre that would cater for the needs of about 30 youngsters, providing transport, special needs teaching and training, physiotherapy and a nutritious mid-day meal, all in a caring Christian environment. About 15 of these would be in residential care, and the remainder would be brought in daily. He asked HHI UK to fund a suitable building and running costs, with the expectation that he would gradually raise an increasing proportion of the daily expenses.  Newport Scouts  and Strathaven Scouts pitched in and did a wonderful job of raising both the capital and initial running costs. Building proceeded apace and Asha Kiran Ashram (which means ‘Rays of Hope Home’) opened its doors in late 2009, initially providing rays of hope to 15 day children. The school quickly developed and soon took in children who needed residential care.

Normality is gradually returning after the disruption caused by the pandemic..  April 2022  is the grand opening of the new physiotherapy room. It is a great addition to the centre – physiotherapy is so transformative of children’s lives.

More information and photographs on Asha Kiran Ashram can be found in our booklet online “God’s Special Children”   ”   (A Story of Four Schools)