When Gabriel Project Mumbai (GPM) decided to open a cafe in the remote tribal village area of area of Mokhada, Maharashtra, last month, they hoped to garner some local interest and support. What they got was wild enthusiasm from both locals and those traveling through – and a public clamoring for more.
By the end of the first week, crowds gathering at the café – which is located on the main road artery in the district – the food was a hit!
The Gaja Café (‘Gaja’ being the Sanskrit word for ‘elephant’, an auspicious animal found in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain scriptural texts) was born as a response to the challenges faced by indigenous communities, who often endure disproportionately high levels of unemployment and poverty. The café was opened in order to catalyze positive change, uplift marginalized communities, provide jobs and serve some great tasting meals.
“This venture holds immense potential, with its focus on generating livelihood opportunities,
diversifying revenue streams, showcasing traditional tribal cuisine, and utilizing profits to support vital development initiatives,” explained Kenneth Dsouza of Gabriel Project Mumbai. "The café provides us with an additional sustainable financial model, reducing our dependency on external funding and ensuring the continuity of our development initiatives. This innovative approach aims to safeguard against funding fluctuations and increase the organization's impact on the ground.”
The Gaja Café, which offers a menu of Indian breakfast, lunch, snacks, health drinks and dessert items provides livelihood opportunities for six community members, including three cooks and three servers who have been FOSTAC (Food Safety Training & Certification) trained in the highest hygiene practices. The café shares industrial kitchen space with GPM’s Bal Balwaan/Healthy Child Malnutrition Intervention program that aims to treat infants diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
“What I love most about the Gaja Café is that it draws people into our center where they learn about our
programs in education, healthcare, livelihood, and nutrition – while helping GPM become more economically sustainable,” explains Jacob Sztokman, Founder of GPM, “By reinvesting the cafe profits into education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, we ensure that the benefits extend far beyond the cafe itself. It's like turning dosas into development!"
The cafe also showcases the rich culinary heritage of the local tribal communities, offering visitors an authentic taste of traditional tribal cuisine along with Western fare. Darshan Kharpade, Gaja Café supervisor emphasizes the cultural significance: "This café not only satisfies culinary enthusiasts but also celebrates and preserves the indigenous knowledge and culinary traditions of our tribal community. It fosters cultural exchange, appreciation, and a deeper understanding of our communities.” Darshan adds, “a main focus of the Gaja Café is to serve healthy food and the hygienic, zero-waste kitchen is environmentally friendly” with a compost bay in clear view outside the kitchen. Additionally, all food ingredients are locally sourced providing economic support to local farmers.
This initiative represents a paradigm shift in international development efforts, combining economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable progress.
The Gaja Café is expected to create a ripple effect, elevating the living standards of the tribal community while nurturing a sense of pride and identity. Furthermore, this model can serve as an inspiration for similar ventures in other remote areas, where development organizations can leverage local resources and traditions to foster sustainable change.
If you are in the area and want to drop into the Gaja Café, we are located in Mokhada Maharashtra at: https://goo.gl/maps/MNkHBoCdfxfADqNL6
(Operating hours are 8am till 5pm, six days a week –
vegetarian/kosher).
