When speaking about Gulshan and Banani, the two most elegant areas of Dhaka, a polychromatic image of towering skyscrapers, corporate prestige, and the opulence of daily life comes to mind. At the middle of these two urban epicenters, hides another reality that often dismays the people of its neighborhood, named Korail.

Korail is one of the most overcrowded and unplanned regions of the city, which often puts itself in the headlines for unfavorable reasons. But lately, a wind of transformation has been blowing through the narrow pavements of Korail, raising the hopes, dreams, and a sense of identity among the people living here.

Once overlooked, fortunately, the boundless potential of the inhabitants was explored and revealed by Paraa, a research-based design and architecture studio, spending the last three years working closely with this community and has fueled this change. Their efforts and initiatives culminated into one of the most exciting exhibitory events of the year, Moja Kori.

Sharara Khan, one of the organisers and architects from Paraa, described the vision behind their work, saying, "We are trying to build this space, Machan, as a collective hub for the habitants of Korail, so that they can showcase their ideas and use it for capacity building. Even if one artist emerges from this initiative, or if someone starts their own creative journey, that will be our success. The possibilities here are endless."

One of the most distinctive features of Moja Kori was the way it focused on the participation of Korail's own people. Residents were not just spectators, but active collaborators in every aspect, starting from contributing as artists, to volunteering, to organising and managing.

A daily exhibition was held as part of the four-day program where, along with art manifestations and exhibition, there were workshops that focused on a variety of topics, ranging from the chaotic cosmopolitan experiences to playful rhymes, creative handcrafts to the photo walk — it had it all. An interesting film screening was arranged at a rickshaw garage in a very unique manner. There were interactive talks sessions and performances throughout the whole program.

Nujhat Jahan Khan, a writer, has worked with children and youth from Korail on a project called Writers from Korail, producing fictional stories that were later exhibited at the event with hand-designed covers. Regarding the project, she said, "We held a few workshops over the last three months, then we called for submissions and the response was overwhelming. Seeing their stories take shape and displayed like this has been an amazing experience."

The impact of this initiative goes beyond exhibition or event activities, it has had a profound influence on the lives of Korail's residents. Women who once lacked a safe space to spend their spare time, now have a common space where they can connect and grow. The community's perspective has shifted as well, with neighbours becoming more supportive and encouraging.

"The girls here feel safer now than they did a few years ago and most importantly, we have a space of our own. Even the viewpoint of our neighbours, who once discouraged us, has changed. So, we can dream of doing things we never thought possible," said Maliha Akter, a resident and volunteer of the event.

The event Moja Kori was not an ordinary one, it was a statement that the people of Korail are more than their struggles. Be it through embroidery, photography, painting, or performance art, the festival exhibited their creativity, mastery, and determination. It was a reminder to the whole city that even in the densest corners of a city, where survival often takes precedence over everything else, art and culture can thrive and transform lives.