Exchanging ideas building vision: Mixed group of Visitors

Visitors at the Life Skills Empowerment Project

Awareness is the first step taken towards progress. In its efforts to sensitize more and more people to the state of the underprivileged communities in Mumbai, Mumbai Smiles through its Awareness programs encourage visitors from within and outside India. The main aim of these visits is to let the visitors interact with the realities of the lives of the people living in Mumbai.

In one such efforts 19 exchange students from various countries like France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Thailand, USA, Brazil and Denmark visited the projects of Mumbai Smiles on 19^th November, 2014. These visitors were mainly college students between the age group of 15-20 years. They were a young bunch of kids who were keen to get answers to several of their questions. They have lived in India for a few months and experienced the contrast of the country. Their questions and involvement encouraged them to contribute to the betterment of the people in their own small ways. They spend an entire day at Mumbai Smiles visiting various projects like Balwadi, SEED beauty culture course & tailoring and craft center and Life Skills Empowerment Projects for adolescent girls. One of the 19 students, Mireia San Martin knew about Mumbai Smiles and encouraged the others to share the experience she had. The visit offered the students an opportunity to interact with various beneficiaries and get a first-hand experience of their realities. They gained more knowledge about the working of Mumbai Smiles and other similar organizations in India.

Jorge del hoyo Aguirre, one of the visitors shared his experience and said “The visit was super nice. I really like to help because these kinds of organizations are the ones who change the world”. Edurne Carrillo summarized her experience as follows, “The visit has shown me how some people work so hard to get what they need. It also showed me that we should never forget that all people, whether small or big are great people.”  Fiona Rose Jones introspected post the visits and said “I have realized how privileged I am. I need to help those who need it and aren’t as fortunate as I am.” Mireia San Martin Marquez penned down her experience as “The visit gave me the possibility to see one of the realities of India and how people can help each other.”

The entire visit was extremely fruitful for the visitors and for Mumbai Smiles. It created a forum to share ideas and innovations to improve the current situation through volunteering opportunities. These instances strengthen our faith in the generosity of young people who have the zest to improve the world and make it more humane for the less opportune ones as well.  

visitors playing with the Balwadi kids

Group of Visitors at the Mumbai Smiles office