Alina Alam, founder of Mitti Cafe at the age of 23, embarked on a mission to showcase the magic of abilities to the world. She believes that compassion and courage are powerful tools in tackling global challenges, advocating strongly for inclusive development and empowering vulnerable communities. Mitti Cafe, initiated during her university years, provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for adults with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.
Alina, a three-time TEDx speaker, is celebrated on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list and has received numerous accolades, including the Commonwealth Youth Award, Niti Aayog-Women Transforming India Award, Helen Keller Award, United Nations Intercultural Innovation Award, Times of India-She Unlimited Award, Rotary Exemplar Award, and Tiecon Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Emphasizing participatory management, Alina is passionate about her journey alongside the extraordinary team at Mitti, composed of individuals with disabilities who have collectively served over 11 million meals and beverages across 40-plus MITTI CAFE locations. Their work not only provides economic independence and dignity but also promotes awareness about inclusion and disability rights globally.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Money is not the only thing that enables it.
- Faith and her mother were her biggest cheerleaders.
- Scarcity is the best resource for any entrepreneur.
- Mentoring and Supporting other women
- You don't have to be in sales mode with everyone.
- The transformative power of community kindness.
- Economic independence and dignity are not privileges but rights.
- Anything nice you do for anyone is a favour you're doing to yourself.
- Strength in faith and the belief that after every hardship comes ease.
- Not having enough helps us learn to value other important things in life.
- You need to know when to listen to your heart, which is your best friend.
- The CEO is also the Chief Pitching Officer and has to bring the stories alive.
- Change can only happen when people overcome uncomfortable moments.
- How Mitti Cafe was inspired by the documentary on Emperor Nero's abuse of power.
- When you're passionate, you're your strongest, most leech-like, and most shameless.
- 70 million people with disabilities in India, and over 1 billion people with disabilities across the world.
- Silence or inaction supports oppression, the moral imperative to stand up for what is right.
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