Let this blog find you discovering many hidden treasures around you!!
Few days back a friend posted a video:
It is a 2 minute video, very touching &
inspiring. Two childhood buddies, Fahim & Tausif, born and brought up in
Dharavi, started a unique tour “BE THE LOCAL” (BTL) to show
people Dharavi the way they see it and dispel the myths about it!!
I met both of them and heard about their
roller coaster journey since 2010. They hire college students and train them to
work part-time as tour guides. The story of many such student guides, whose
lives were transformed in the process touched me. They have become more
confident, with wider level of awareness, and are funding higher education out
the money earned as a guide. Tausif & Fahim’s dream is to expand this
context across the world and help local students to think beyond their limitations.
They also organize regular counselling sessions for youth at Dharavi to inspire
them, take an informed choice about education and an honourable career.
BTL has received amazing feedbacks
from visitors on Trip Advisor: (115 so far: 111 excellent, 4 good). Do read
some of them, they echo what we experienced. Many have mentioned that it was
the highlight of their entire India trip!
On 22 March 2014, I went on a 2.5 hour tour
with Razaaq, one of their guides. We were total 5 people (2 men, 3 women). He
was full of enthusiasm, information & pride about Dharavi. Razaaq knew most
of the people around. I noticed lots of enthusiasm and positivity. Everyone was
busy in their own life, without cribbing, crying, begging. Lots of bubbly
enthusiastic kids, some even engaged the two German ladies in our group in a
conversation in English. One kid offered us the chips he had. A little baby smiled
and waved at us! We found the tour totally safe.
Dharavi is highly self-sufficient. In
addition to various factories that make stuff, there are others that repair and
make machines for these factories.
We saw recycling factories for plastic,
aluminium, paint cans etc; others that made khaari(biscuit), soap; leather
tanneries, fabric dyeing & design painting shop in that short trip. A place
which had statues & symbols of all religions signifying secular nature of
the place. We came to know that Dharavi has 13 legislature constituencies. Its annual
turnover is approx $1billion. It recycles 60% of Mumbai’s garbage.
All in all an eye opening trip. I would
highly recommend it, if you are already in Mumbai or on your next Mumbai visit.
BTL contact details
are on their website: http://bethelocaltoursandtravels.com
Warm regards,
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