Sayyed Amaan

My name is Amaan Sayyed (nickname Builder). I am doing computer analysis at S.V.V.K COLLEGE at Lower Parel (Mumbai). I'm also doing a part-time guiding role with Be The Local Tours since 2022. The reason for joining Be The Local is that I was born and raised in Dharavi (slum). My family and I have lived here for about 4 generations. Also, doing a tour was my dream since childhood because talking with foreigners and speaking English was something I always aspired to. I am fortunate enough that I got a chance to study in a semi-private school (all credit goes to my parents). The journey began in March 2022 when I met Faheem Bhai (one of the founders) on my way back from junior college. Stepping into the role of a part-time tour guide was both exciting and daunting. Initial conversations, especially in English, felt intimidating since the language was reserved mainly for university. However, within 5 months of interacting with diverse travelers and drawing encouragement from supportive colleagues and senior guides like Razak, Oves, and Faiz, my confidence soared. The experience became transformative, offering a new and positive outlook on life and invaluable lessons from each tour and every person met along the way. Thanks to people like you, we got a chance to complete our study through BE THE LOCAL (Thanks to Faheem and Tausif Bhai).