Ashton’s date with ‘powerful girls’

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Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher visited the Apne Aap centre at Najafgarh in support of the NGO’s fight against sex trafficking

When Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher paid a surprise visit to young girls at Apne Aap NGO recently, he gave them something more than a few memories to giggle about. He gave them the courage to dream about a
better future.

Manisha Verma, who wanted to quit studies now wants to study further. “Ashton sat on the floor with us, sang an English song, went to our colonies, met our neighbours and family members. He was very encouraging and said that we should study hard and do something meaningful in life,” she says.
If Manisha feels motivated to study, 15-year-old Neha Sharma’s dreams of becoming a dancer are soaring high. When Ashton said that he wanted to learn a few bhangra moves from Manisha and other dancers at the NGO, Neha was stunned.
“Never before had a famous personality matched dance steps with us. We were a bit shy but he said that even he gets butterflies in the stomach whenever he is onstage,” says Manisha, who was thrilled when Ashton complimented her on her dancing skills.
More than 15 girls who got to meet him have a lot to say about the Two and A Half Men star. “I am not sure how big a star he is but I couldn’t believe that a hero from America had come to meet us,” says another NGO girl Sheetal Verma, and adds that Ashton is her idol and she wants to become a good human like him.
The actor was impressed with the girls too and had tweeted: “Met some powerful girls today in Delhi at Apne Aap.” In the capital to shoot for a biopic on Apple cp-founder Steve Jobs, Ashton spent about an hour with the girls and was deeply moved by how they were fighting the community tradition that pushes them into prostitution after having their first child, says Priyanka Singh, project officer for livelihood at Najafgarh branch.
“All the girls at the NGO have had child marriage. Now, they are taking training in computers, English, cutting and tailoring to be able to earn a livelihood instead of getting into prostitution. The girls have been fighting many things and a visit from the actor has strengthened their spirit,” adds Priyanka.