Kayzad Shroff

Qualifications/Work Experience: I have a Masters in Architecture and a Bachelors in Architecture, both from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
What are you doing now? I am currently a Visiting Lecturer at the Kamla Raheja Institute of Architecture and the Academy of Architecture (both in Bombay). I am also Principal at ShroffLeon (Bombay-Seville), and I am collaborating on a publication about the Superblock Typology innate to Abu Dhabi.
How would you describe your Shelter Associates experience? My time at Shelter was beneficial on multiple levels. Besides the obvious benefit of becoming aware of conditions otherwise alien to me, at a personal level it exposed me to the inner workings that are requisite for the daily functioning of informal settlements – workings both internal to the settlement as well as external (government, planning, NGOs, etc.)
What did you learn from your time with Shelter? I was made aware of the multiple forces that contribute to the stability of such settlements and the many concern that have a stake in its future development.
My message to future volunteers is… to be patient – things will take time, and as work done by SA is not-for-profit, unfortunately, due to the workings of the India Government, things will take even longer. So don’t be disheartened!
You can reach me at...kayzadshroff@gmail.com