KEEP BELIEVING

Frans Baartmans left the prosperous Netherlands 35 years ago because he wanted to support people living in extreme poverty elsewhere in the world, people barely keeping their heads above water.

Subsequently, he settled in the Nagwa slum in the holy city of Varanasi, India. There, he found mostly sorrow and hardship. The people he met were outcast and marginalised, yet deeply resilient. From the start, he stood beside them. Day and night, he worked with the so-called “untouchables,” or Dalits. Together, they fought for dignity and justice. However, their story reflects a much larger reality. The discrimination faced by Dalits mirrors the global injustice seen across continents. Indeed, millions are still oppressed because of their origin, faith, or social status. That’s why Frans chose to act. Together with the people of Nagwa, he helped build something new, a healthy, sustainable environment where people could live, grow, and find strength.

Despite the weight of poverty, laughter slowly returned. Importantly, so did hope. Now, due to age and health, Frans is returning to the Netherlands. Yet, in a slum, the struggle never truly ends. Nevertheless, Nagwa holds powerful lessons. about resilience, about community, and about human dignity in the face of injustice. The Keep Believing documentary captures this journey. It tells the story of one man’s lifelong commitment and a community’s strength in the harshest of places.