Governance
The board sets the direction for Australian Friends of Asha, watches over finances and compliance, and keeps the charity aligned with the mission of Asha India.
Governance & Accountability
Our Board
Australian Friends of Asha for Slums is guided by a volunteer board that oversees the charity’s activities and governance in Australia, supporting the programmes of Asha India in slums across India.
What the board does
Stewardship of a long-running partnership
Asha India was created by Dr. Kiran Martin in 1988 and works with people residing in slums in India, benefiting more than 700,000 people from over 91 slums. The Australian board keeps this partnership honest and active — promoting the work, reporting to supporters, and ensuring funds reach the programmes they are given for.
- Overseeing the organisation’s activities and governance in Australia.
- Raising awareness of the work carried out by Asha India in healthcare, education and economic empowerment.
- Making publications and reports available for supporters to review.
- Supporting the delivery of monthly donor gifts that fund emergency care every day of the year.
Board responsibilities
How the board works
Advocacy & awareness
Board members help raise awareness of slum communities in India among Australian supporters, students and community groups.
Reporting
Regular reports and publications describe programme outcomes and organisational goals, giving donors and volunteers a clear view of the work.
Publications
Reports and documents
Documents outlining organisational goals, achievements, programme outcomes and financial transparency are collected in one place for supporters, partners and volunteers.
| Document type | What it covers | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Annual reports | Organisational goals and achievements of the year | Reports & Publications |
| Programme reports | Outcomes across healthcare, education and empowerment work in slums | Reports & Publications |
| Financial information | Transparency on how donations are applied to programmes | Reports & Publications |
| Background on Asha India | History of the organisation since its creation by Dr. Kiran Martin in 1988 | About Us |
Give to the work the board oversees
Donations over $2 to the Australian Friends of Asha for Slums Overseas Development Gift and Relief Fund are tax deductible. As a monthly donor you provide lifesaving emergency care delivered every day of the year to children who could die without it.
Australian Friends of Asha for Slums is a volunteer-run charity that supports the work of Asha India, an organisation created by Dr. Kiran Martin and dedicated to people living in slums across India. The Australian arm exists to raise awareness, fundraise and advocate for the children and families the programmes serve, keeping the connection between Australian supporters and communities on the ground active and visible.
The board's role is governance and accountability. Its members are volunteers who oversee the charity's activities in Australia, promote the partnership with Asha India, report back to supporters and donors, and help ensure that funds raised here reach the programmes they are intended for. Volunteers bring a range of professional backgrounds, reflecting the breadth of the community involved in the charity's events, campaigns and ongoing fundraising efforts.
Through a long-running partnership, the charity contributes to health, education and empowerment work directed at children and families in disadvantaged urban communities, alongside the wider community of slum residents. Beyond giving children the essentials they need to survive, the organisation supports livelihoods, schooling and community-led initiatives, with a focus on dignity rather than charity alone.
Support for the charity takes many forms, from donating to fundraising and attending community events, to sharing information and helping sustain the partnership over the long term. Volunteers give their time, ideas and networks so that the Australian organisation can continue championing the rights of children and families in slums, and so that the work of Asha India can grow stronger with each year.