Today we toured Dharavi with Reality Tours, an organization that Krishna founded, which is a so called slum in Mumbai. We were split into two groups and our tour guides were Krishna and Sunny. We learned today that there were jobs available in Dharavi for everyone who lives there. These included manufacturing of clothes, pottery, jewelry, and other goods that could be sold within Dharavi or throughout India. Additionally, recycling of heavy metals and plastics were a huge industry in Dharavi. As we walked around it seemed like many people held jobs in relation to recycling. Throughout the tour we were also surprised about all of the stores that were there. There were major markets that sold food, clothes, and other items that people living in Dharavi could buy. In addition, we were surprised that there were so many schools. We saw many students walking around in uniforms and we were surprised to see how many kids were able to get an education. It was an eye opening experience and many stereotypes that we had going into today in Dharavi were broken. We did not think about the fact that people would manufacture so many goods, that there would be a market, or that there would be so many schools. Our opinion of Dharavi has changed and we got new insight into the daily lives of people living in Dharavi.
Once we concluded our tour we went to the Reality Gives, the sister organization of Reality Tours, community center in Dharavi. There, we were introduced to teenagers and young adults that are taking English and their teacher, Jodi. We made friends with the students very quickly. Many of us said that they are some of the nicest, funniest, and happiest people we have met. We were able to laugh over our minimal vocabulary in Hindi, while they taught us many more phrases and words that would be useful for the rest of our stay here. We sang their favorite songs by Rihanna and Justin Bieber, as they gave us beautiful henna tattoos. Through finding commonalities between us and the students in Dharavi we got a very personal look into what life in Dharavi is like. One thing that we learned is that their lives are full of hope and optimism for the future. A woman we met had many hopes for her future and wanted to work at a call center and take international calls. Meeting the students was another eye opening experience and we were able to learn a lot about them and build strong relationships. Many of us even exchanged emails and phone numbers to try and keep connected.
After we concluded the tour we returned to our hotel and then went to dinner on the rooftop of a restaurant called Koyla.
Love,
Kara and Haley
P.S. Portia would like to give her brother a shoutout on his birthday! Happy Birthday!!!!!
Once we concluded our tour we went to the Reality Gives, the sister organization of Reality Tours, community center in Dharavi. There, we were introduced to teenagers and young adults that are taking English and their teacher, Jodi. We made friends with the students very quickly. Many of us said that they are some of the nicest, funniest, and happiest people we have met. We were able to laugh over our minimal vocabulary in Hindi, while they taught us many more phrases and words that would be useful for the rest of our stay here. We sang their favorite songs by Rihanna and Justin Bieber, as they gave us beautiful henna tattoos. Through finding commonalities between us and the students in Dharavi we got a very personal look into what life in Dharavi is like. One thing that we learned is that their lives are full of hope and optimism for the future. A woman we met had many hopes for her future and wanted to work at a call center and take international calls. Meeting the students was another eye opening experience and we were able to learn a lot about them and build strong relationships. Many of us even exchanged emails and phone numbers to try and keep connected.
After we concluded the tour we returned to our hotel and then went to dinner on the rooftop of a restaurant called Koyla.
Love,
Kara and Haley
P.S. Portia would like to give her brother a shoutout on his birthday! Happy Birthday!!!!!
