6.9 Materials: Using and Reusing
backDharavi, in Mumbai, is one of the largest slums in the world, housing over a million people in a dense area. Families often live in small, single-room homes shared by multiple generations. They work hard to build a better life. Kids go to school and often speak several languages like Marathi, Hindi, and English. They play in narrow streets since open spaces are rare. |
Despite hardships, Dharavi is full of creativity, with people making pottery, clothes, and leather goods. Life can be tough with limited clean water and toilets, but people are resourceful and determined to improve their neighborhood.
Dharavi is like a giant recycling factory where almost everything gets a new life. People there don’t throw things away—they make them better. Dharavi is famous for its creativity and hard work. It’s not just a place where people live; it’s where they turn old, used things into brand-new treasures.
Here’s how it works:
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Dharavi isn’t just about recycling; it’s about finding value in things most people would throw away. It shows how teamwork, imagination, and effort can turn a challenge—like too much waste—into an opportunity to help the environment while making beautiful products.
- What do you think it would be like to live in a small room with your whole family? How would you feel sharing a space with so many people?
- How many languages can you speak? Do you think speaking multiple languages would be useful in your everyday life?
- Imagine playing in narrow streets with limited space. How would you feel about that? What are some games you could play with your friends if there was no big park nearby?
- How would you feel about living in a place where recycling is a big part of everyday life? Would you want to turn old things into new, useful items?
- Have you ever turned something old or broken into something useful? What did you do with it?
- How do you think recycling in places like Dharavi helps the environment and the people living there?
- What do you think about the fact that Dharavi makes around $1 billion a year from recycling? How could this money help the people living there?