The basic shelter structure that Paul has created has provided a space for URBZ to begin carrying out some exciting activities with the children in Dharavi. The idea is to start using this space as a social centre for a number of different activities both for children and the elderly. In this way, when the space grows and the site gets developed, it does so incrementally and adapts to the needs and requirements of its users that are beginning to inhabit the space already.

Dharavi Sunday Club

Our activities started on Sunday the 6th. With the assistance of Himanshu S, an artist here in Mumbai, we began a drawing activity with the children. There were approximately 50 children that came to the shelter the first day and the day began with the children sharing their acrobatic talents and dancing and playing around. We then asked the kids to draw what they liked and many began by drawing their dream houses.

Himanshu S Sitting with the Children on the first Sunday

On the second Sunday the drawings that had been produced were pinned up on the walls of the shelter and the children returned and proudly showed their creations to their other friends that had missed out the first day. The second activity that we carried out also involved drawing, but this time we wanted the children to share with us what Dharavi means for them; what surrounds them, what they like, what the story about the place in which they live is. We therefore, decided to organise the children into groups and take them for a little walk around the block. The children were asked to observe their surroundings carefully and draw what they saw. The children loved this activity and were excited about what they would draw when they returned after their walk. They pranced around saying “I will draw the bicycle! I will draw the basket weaver! I will draw the sweets maker! I will draw the tempo! I will draw toilets! I will draw the rubbish! I will draw the shops! I will draw the temple! ‘

Bhau Organising the Children & Explaining the Activity

Taking a Walk through the Neighbourhood & Observing the Surroundings

Drawing and Sharing

The idea is to now develop a programme of activities for the children so that every Sunday they will spend time in the shelter and engage in a variety of creative activities.. Next Sunday we are hoping to watch some animated films with the children and paint the new entrance sign to the new Social Club.

Children's Artwork

Artwork on the Walls

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