Colourful Walls May Bring Progress To A Mumbai Slum

This beautiful and brief story made me reflect on the meaning of development. On how a small change, like painting a wall, can make a big difference.

A young woman from Mumbai, co-founder of a digital media agency, decided to paint the grubby and depressing walls of the slum of Asalpha, a village she saw every day while commuting on the Mumbai Metro. 

The decision to "brighten up" the home of those living in the slum may now bring some (extra) positive consequences to the community. 

Although at the beginning some neighbors found the idea suspicious, many have reported feeling "wonderful" thanks to the transformation, which provided them with a boost of confidence. 

"Walls so pretty, they are going to be Instagram worthy."

The project also brought the community together, with a team of 400 volunteers painting the walls, and local artists volunteering to decorate some of the walls with murals. Children and women from the area were also involved. 

But perhaps the most unexpected outcome is the increase in job opportunities, with new touristic tours starting to reach Asalpha by the end of this month.