Andheri

I finally made it to India! After having my itinerary changed about 4 times, we finally landed in Mumbai yesterday around 2am and were welcomed by a busy crowd and the monsoon season (which in India means 80%+ humidity!).

After failing at getting some much needed sleep we were thrown right into the depths of India. The group visited the offices of AmeriCares, an organization that strives to provide mobile medical services to India’s largest slum, East Andheri. The main focus of the organization is to provide on site medical care, free medications as well as disaster relief whenever needed (Note:

Did you that about 50% of the population live in slums? Unbelievable).

It’s hard to describe what I saw once we got to the slums. We got off to bus and were hit by a strong putrid smell coming from the enormous mountain of waste sitting right next to the slums. If you didn’t know any better you’d think it’s just another mountain decorating the horizon.

The medical van parked in front of a garage-looking structure and proceeded to set up so they could start seeing patients. In the meantime we stood there, trying to take it all in as we started to get the attention from people in the community. The little kids were the first ones to come over to take a closer look and pose for the cameras. Then women started to line up to so the doctor could see them.

Looking around you realize these people have no access to clean water, health services, education or a steady income. Living in unsanitary conditions, among animals and waste is the norm for all the people in slums.

I left E. Andheri feeling disheartened. How can we help? Where to even begin? I hope by the end of this trip I will have a better idea of how to answer these questions.

Can't wait to see what India has in store for us on Day 2!