Mumbai, India: Tackling social inequality with Un Toit à Bombay

From left to right : Oriane, Ankita, Prunelle, the two teachers, Sushmita in the arms of the center’s director.

At the bottom, Krishna. We celebrated Holi with the best.

« Didi, Didi ! » After making our way through the narrow alleys of Malad East slum and its chaotic traffic, the girls’ warm welcome leaves us energized for the rest of the day.

Oriane in trouble

« Didi » means big sister, and that’s exactly what we felt like lending a helping hand at the Day Care Center of the non-profit organization Un Toit à Bombay.

Colette, the NGO's founder, on the right

Founded by Colette Battistini in 2007, the NGO’s goal is to send young girls from Mumbai’s slums to school. In 2011, thanks to the support of the Fondation Groupe RATP, an educational center opened next to the slum of Malad East. From Mondays to Saturdays, the center’s director and two teachers help the girls to do their homework when they are not in school. They also teach the girls other skills, like English, cooking or sewing.

For the girls, it’s an opportunity to broaden their perspective. « I love studying at the Day Care Center », tells us Ankita. « I’m a good student, I would love to become a doctor. »

Prunelle teaching the infamous "you put your right hand in" song

But the Day Care Center is first and foremost a welcoming place that makes daily life easier. Instead of being left to fend for themselves after school, when their parents are not home, the girls have lunch, can take a nap, and have access to a doctor.

The Day Care Center's mezzanine, turned into a nap area

They can even use the Internet, which turns out to be useful not only for homework, but also when it comes to practicing their Bollywood dance moves !

On stage

The RATP Dev – Transdev team that operates Mumbai’s metro line 1 is dedicated to helping the NGO. During the exam period, Swapnali went to the center each afternoon to give math and science lessons. As a long-time employee of the Metro, she appreciates the opportunity that was given to her to lend a helping hand. In Mumbai, slums are part of everyday life. It is a pleasure for her to take some time to help the center.

Three For The Ride was happy to share these girls' appetite for life and their teachers' enthusiasm.

We played educational games with the girls to teach them English, and brought together the center’s director and the Marketing director of the Metro. They will organize a visit of the metro line with the center’s teenagers. It will give them the opportunity to discover new types of jobs.

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