Payback time: slum tour operators start school for poor- Hindustan Times
Payback time: slum tour operators start school for poor- Hindustan Times
It is payback time of sorts for a couple of businessmen who take wide-eyed tourists through the byzantine back streets of India’s largest slum.
British-born Chris Way (32), and his business partner Krishna Poojari (27), have started a school in Dharavi offering art, dance, chess and English lessons to slum children — in the hope it will offset criticism that the tour company they run is exploiting slumdwellers.
The duo had started ‘Reality Tours and Travel’ in 2005, giving tourists the chance to experience the ‘authentic’ India by taking them on guided tours around the back alleys of Dharavi.
At the time they were accused of voyeurism and benefiting from ‘poverty tourism’. However, Way maintained the tours educated tourists about recycling projects and enterprise in Dharavi and challenged stereotypes about slum life.
He has now funded the new community and education centre to “give something back to residents and show people we are not exploiting them”. Located in a rented office space close to Kumbharwabda, in the pottery area of the slum, it is being run together with local non-government organisation Modern Educational Social and Cultural Organisation.
The centre, which cost Rs 45,000 to set up, and will cost Rs 42,000 a month to run, is already running English classes for children aged 12 to 17, and the other classes will start soon, Way said. “Whenever we go round on a tour we ask the people living here what they need and they always say ‘English’."
There are also plans for electrician, plumbing and air conditioning repair courses. “This community centre is funded by me pretty much like a business expense. We are charging a nominal Rs 50 per month but so far only 25 per cent who have joined have paid,” he said.
It is payback time of sorts for a couple of businessmen who take wide-eyed tourists through the byzantine back streets of India’s largest slum.
British-born Chris Way (32), and his business partner Krishna Poojari (27), have started a school in Dharavi offering art, dance, chess and English lessons to slum children — in the hope it will offset criticism that the tour company they run is exploiting slumdwellers.
The duo had started ‘Reality Tours and Travel’ in 2005, giving tourists the chance to experience the ‘authentic’ India by taking them on guided tours around the back alleys of Dharavi.
At the time they were accused of voyeurism and benefiting from ‘poverty tourism’. However, Way maintained the tours educated tourists about recycling projects and enterprise in Dharavi and challenged stereotypes about slum life.
He has now funded the new community and education centre to “give something back to residents and show people we are not exploiting them”. Located in a rented office space close to Kumbharwabda, in the pottery area of the slum, it is being run together with local non-government organisation Modern Educational Social and Cultural Organisation.
The centre, which cost Rs 45,000 to set up, and will cost Rs 42,000 a month to run, is already running English classes for children aged 12 to 17, and the other classes will start soon, Way said. “Whenever we go round on a tour we ask the people living here what they need and they always say ‘English’."
There are also plans for electrician, plumbing and air conditioning repair courses. “This community centre is funded by me pretty much like a business expense. We are charging a nominal Rs 50 per month but so far only 25 per cent who have joined have paid,” he said.
posted by Sandip K. Dasverma at
9:36 PM
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