About

Aasraa was established in 2009 by Shaila Brijnath, who had recently relocated to Dehradun from London after a career as an Equity trader. After Dehradun emerged as the de facto capital of Uttarakhand, it experienced a rapid influx of migrants seeking work and services. This resulted in the growth of over 128 informal settlements, primarily along the Bindal and Rispana rivers, where over 160,000 people live in precarious conditions without access to basic infrastructure.

Shaila saw the urgent need for intervention as children in these settlements lacked education, proper nutrition, healthcare, and were susceptible to substance abuse and addiction. Many turned to child labor, begging, or rag-picking to support their families, while those in government schools often dropped out due to poor learning foundations, systemic neglect, and no academic support at home.

She set up Aasraa and launched the Wings of Doon after-school program in the Bindal slum area with just 35 children.

Neelu Khanna joined her in 2010, and together they launched the Street Smart program in 2011, aimed at providing basic literacy through art, music etc and rescuing vulnerable children from street life.

Aasraa has since grown organically expanding its programs to address a range of issues faced by children in Uttarakhand.

So far, Aasraa has impacted over 28,600 children across more than 80 centres, in 3 districts of Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Pauri Garhwal.

Aasraa’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that a child can’t learn on an empty stomach, without access to healthcare, a safe home, or emotional support.

All of Aasraa’s interventions are designed with this philosophy in mind, creating an ecosystem where no child is left behind.

For 16 years, Aasraa has served society’s most vulnerable street and slum children, school dropouts, child laborers, children in need of care and protection, and young adults with disabilities. To meet their diverse needs, Aasraa has built a holistic model that combines education, shelter, nutrition, healthcare, mental health support and skills training.

Children enter education through Mobile Learning Carts, audio visual-equipped Learning Buses, and Community-Based centers that prepare them for mainstream or open schooling. As first-generation learners, they receive after-school remedial support to bridge learning gaps.

Shelter Homes provide safety and care, while a Centralized Kitchen delivers daily nutritious meals. The Medical Team ensures round the clock healthcare, and a dedicated team provides emotional and career counselling. A Special Needs Centre caters to children with disabilities. Outreach teams maintain strong community links to ensure parental involvement.

As the final step, skills training and access to higher education empower children to move from Street to School to Skills, ensuring continuous support at every stage and enabling them to become confident, contributing members of society.