Slum Prep

Last week we prepped for teaching in the Kalwa slum! Brainstorming lessons for the kids was humbling. It’s hard to put a finger on what I take for granted as “common knowledge” – things I know just by growing up where and how I did, like knowing how to greet people, expressing reactions, and having a notion of geography beyond just my neighborhood. GPM calls these topics informal education, which is what we as teaching fellows bring to the slum children through our lessons. Our initial brainstorm was thrilling – we are all itching to meet the kids and start interacting with our classes. On Wednesday we planned a practice lesson. Our subject? Feelings!

Craft time! Getting in touch with our inner emoji

 

Also in preparation for Kalwa, we visited the biggest slum in India called Dharavi. Holding about 1 million people, Dharavi is 20 times more dense than the rest of Mumbai, taking the space of 500 football fields. The term “slum” doesn’t have a reputation of comfortable society, so I braced myself to step outside my comfort zone. As I walked down that first road however, I felt like I was just on another crazy Mumbai street. The taxis hollered away and people streamed by, immersed in their midday labors.

As we continued, the streets narrowed. The residential area had alleyways so tiny, even I (shorty that I am) had to stoop. These sunless strips are lined with doorways leading into single tin rooms and ladders leading to more. I saw countless tin hovels, stacked on top of one another, full of people working in the Dharavi factories.

The industries in Dharavi provide jobs for those living within, attracting many from villages across India to work and live in this internal factory system. I was astounded by everything being made in such a tiny area. The products – from clothes and soap, pottery and papadum, to electronics and melted plastic – don’t often leave Mumbai. Each alleyway held a peek into the production of something different. As I looked into the minute work spaces, faces popped up from focusing to stare, smile, or wave.

The complexity and community of Dharavi broke some of my slum stigma. It is a thriving microeconomy – with infrastructure like schools, stores, and hospitals independently supporting so many in such a small space.

We couldn’t take photos in the slum, but here is some more info and pictures: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/dharavi-mumbai-slum/jacobson-text

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