The Ambassadors of Mumbai (AoM) training programme is an initiative by Team KHAKI. The programme trains residents passionate about Mumbai to be Ambassadors of the city to visitors. Ambassadors of Mumbai are NOT tourist guides but representatives of the city who are knowledgeable, articulate and friendly; they are interested in the city's history, heritage and culture; and their passion for the city is infectious. Above all, Ambassadors of Mumbai leave visitors with an experience of the city that is unforgettable.

The Ambassadors of Mumbai training programme was launched in 2018 and has already had six successful editions. Graduates of the programme conduct heritage walks and tours for travellers as part of Khaki Tours. The more ambitious among them are also designing and curating new experiences! They also get adequately compensated for their time and effort. Our hosting fees remain the best in the industry.

We are looking for a new set of equally passionate people who will become the Ambassadors of Mumbai in 2024! Our training programme has both theory and practicals covering subjects like Mumbai's architecture, food, geography, history and religions, as well as storytelling and mobile photography. Some sessions will be online, while others will be offline. We are expanding Khaki’s coverage beyond Mumbai into India and abroad, and able AoMs will potentially get opportunities to host our international tours too, on successful completion of the program.

PROGRAMME ELIGIBILITY
While anyone is open to apply to become an ‘Ambassador of Mumbai’, we are looking for very specific skill-sets:

Must-have:
- Resident of Mumbai
- Over 18 years of age
- Fluency in English with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Cheerful, hospitable and welcoming personality, with a flair for public speaking.
- An interest in history and heritage
- Time available during the week (especially mornings 7 am to 12 pm and evenings 3 pm to 8 pm) to conduct     heritage walks and tours
- Inherent ability to troubleshoot unexpected problems elegantly.

Nice to have:
- Resident of Central and South Mumbai
- Your own vehicle or access to private transport
- Diverse linguistic skills. Fluency in international language(s) and/or Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati will be greatly appreciated.
- Age and energy on your side - you will be walking through the city a lot!
- An inquisitive mind with an inclination for research.
- Background in Art/ History/ Heritage Conservation/ Architecture/ Theatre/ Cultural Studies and/or other allied disciplines

Undesirable:
- People already freelancing or intending to freelance with other tour companies
- People who are uncomfortable dealing with any specific gender, community, nationality, or sexuality. We do not discriminate on any grounds.
- People who cannot manage their time efficiently.
- People who are not passionate about the city's history and heritage.

EVALUATION & SELECTION
To apply, go through the details here and fill in the form at the end. We will review your application and contact you within a week. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed over Zoom/ WhatsApp call. All selected candidates will undergo a rigorous training programme according to the schedule given below on payment of the programme fee.

PROGRAMME FEES
Application to the programme is free. However, there is a training fee of ₹5999/- for selected participants (₹2999/- for full-time undergraduate students in the academic year 2024-25). The successful candidates who graduate from the programme can look at making anything from  ₹1000/- to ₹5000/- per tour depending on duration, complexity and number of guests.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
The AoM24 training programme will be conducted from April 6, 2024 to August 31, 2024. Selected candidates will be taken through the city's history, geography, architecture and culture. The trainees will have to go through pre-recorded training modules (totally 200 mins of viewing time a week) online during the week along with handouts. On Saturday mornings, they will attend clarification sessions with the trainers followed by tests (on alternate weekends in KHAKI Lab @ Fort). The results of the tests as well as projects assigned during the programme will be used to evaluate the trainees.