Alphakids International

We've been running our center out of this bungalow in Andheri West for a good while now. It’s tucked away in Lokhandwala, specifically Bungalow 17 on that second cross lane. Being in a bungalow instead of a big commercial building makes things feel a bit more relaxed, I think. We have different rooms set up for the kids, and it’s usually pretty loud from the moment we open the gates. The staff here are mostly local folks who take the rickshaw or walk from the station. We spend our mornings getting the mats out and checking that everything is ready for the day. It’s not a fancy corporate setup with glass walls and uniforms. It’s just us in our regular clothes, dealing with toys, books, and the usual chaos that comes with children. The lane outside can get a bit crowded when parents are dropping off or picking up, and the rain sometimes makes the back road a mess, but we just deal with it. We don't have any big mission statements on the walls. We just try to make sure the kids have a safe place to be while they're here. Most of our day is spent cleaning up spills, reading stories, or just keeping an eye on things. It’s practical work. It’s a bit messy and loud, but that’s just how it is when you’re working in a place like this in the middle of Andheri West.