This is an inspiring tale of a boy who not only dreamt big while living off the streets but also achieved his dreams. Meet Amin Sheikh who runs a small café in Mumbai which offers something more than just a cup of hot coffee and delicious sandwiches. The place is also known for offering young people who have experienced life on the streets an opportunity to learn and work. The space offers them a platform to build confidence and imagine a successful life beyond the circumstances they were born into.Who is Amin Sheikh?Amin Sheikh is the founder of the Bombay to Barcelona Library Café in Andheri region. The man himself experienced homelessness and abuse as a child. He very-well understands what it means to grow up without the security of a home. Today, he has become a hero for other young people who are facing such hardships in their life.As per publicly available reports, around 15 young people work at his café. They work as cooks, baristas and servers. Many of them have experienced homelessness or grown up without parents. Today, the café has become a workplace where they can earn a living.Sheikh’s journeySheikh’s journey began with a childhood he would not wish even for his enemies. He ran away from an abusive home when he was only five years old, when most kids are still learning to speak clearly. He spent years living on the streets of Mumbai.As per his account in his self-published book, Bombay Mumbai: Life Is Life, I Am Because of You, he mentioned that he was rescued at the age of eight by a Catholic nun and ended up growing up in a Jesuit orphanage.The idea that changed his life
Bombay to Barcelona cafe (Instagram)
In his early twenties, he worked as a chauffeur for an employer who helped him travel to Barcelona in 2003. When touring the Spanish city, he noticed cafés and restaurants would welcome him and offer him a seat at the same table as other customers. It was a contrast to his experience in India. Because in his country, drivers were often expected to wait outside while their employers ate.For Sheikh, it was a life-changing experience. It was more about being treated with dignity, regardless of his occupation or social status. The idea struck a chord with him. He wanted a café where people from different backgrounds could sit together without being judged.More than a cup of coffeeA sign above his cafe entrance reads, “Run by street girls and boys.”Inside, there are books sitting alongside the tables where customers enjoy their food and drinks. Professionals work on laptops, friends meet over coffee, and visitors come to learn about the café’s unusual story.The initiative also makes certain food and beverages available at discounted prices to those who didn’t have enough money. Homeless kids from the neighbourhood come and offer food for food. The initiative also helps provide rented accommodation for team members, giving many of them an opportunity to experience stable housing.When confidence becomes a turning point
Library Cafe (official)
Khushboo Ali, who manages the café’s everyday operations, is among those whose lives have changed. She recalls a time when she lacked confidence and would cry at the thought of speaking to strangers. With Sheikh’s encouragement, she gradually began to believe in herself.Today, she has responsibilities at the café and is also pursuing her interest in fashion design. Her creations are displayed at the eatery and made available for purchase.The opportunities have extended beyond the café, too. Through an arrangement with Maltese fashion brand Charles & Ron, Ali received the opportunity to undertake a three-month internship, while café employee Jyoti Yadav was given a chance to model the brand’s clothes.Other former employees have followed their own paths. Sairaj Babu Methari, who previously worked as a barista, has pursued his interests in rap music and writing.Trained more than 130 young people in café work
Amin Sheikh at his cafe (Official)
Sheikh helped Alumelu Bahadur, a former member of the café’s public relations team, pursue her dream of opening a school for children from lower-income families. Together, they established Little Gurus’ Nest, an early learning centre inaugurated in January 2023.Set up in a former butcher shop that was converted into a learning space, the centre uses Montessori and Waldorf educational approaches for children below the age of five. According to the report, its 29 enrolled children receive free education, with lessons covering language, mathematics and culture.In 2024, Sheikh established the Street Angels Foundation to receive donations for projects such as the preschool. The foundation has also supported housing initiatives, including the partial funding of six one-bedroom apartments through a government programme, according to the report.He is now raising funds to expand both the school and the café.His story is a perfect example of the fact that childhood should not determine a lifetime.
