PROJECT #4
FROM MUMBAI WITH LOVE
July 2022 | MUMBAI, INDIA | MITHI River
168,650 STUDENTS
regularly work on a roster system to clean beaches, mangroves, and rivers.
60M+ LBS
of waste removed from the ocean, beaches, creeks, rivers, and forests.
348 weeks
spent cleaning up the river and training people to form a circular economy.
A Blueprint for Collective Action
In the crowded heart of Mumbai, one man sparked a global movement with a simple idea: clean what you love. From Mumbai with Love, a Rivers are Life film, tells the story of Afroz Shah, an environmental lawyer who transformed a polluted beach into a worldwide symbol of hope.
Shah’s campaign at Versova Beach grew into the largest beach cleanup in the world, drawing thousands of volunteers. His persistence didn’t just clear pollution, it redefined what community action could look like. The United Nations named him a “Champion of the Earth,” and CNN recognized him as “Hero of the Year.”
But Shah didn’t stop at the shoreline. Partnering with the Dawoodi Bohra community’s “Turning the Tide” initiative, he tackled pollution in the Mithi River and Dana Pani Beach, proving that rivers and oceans are inseparable in the fight against waste. His work also helped launch the UN’s global Clean Seas campaign.
From Mumbai with Love is more than one man’s story, it’s a blueprint for collective action. It shows us that courage, community, and relentless effort can rewrite the future of rivers and coasts.
