Initiatives

The Bohra community has long been an advocate for environmental responsibility and conservation. The bounties of nature are gifts from the Almighty and safeguarding those bounties for future generations is considered to be a responsibility that falls upon every individual. The community’s environmental awareness arm, Burhani Foundation, has actively undertaken initiatives towards a greener, cleaner world since its inception in 1992. From tree plantation drives to cleanup activities to wildlife conservation exercises, the foundation seeks to address all forms of environmental concerns.

With the world’s oceans increasingly coming under the grip of plastic pollution, there is an immediate need for individuals and collectives across the globe to join forces in this fight against plastic pollution. Realising this urgent need for action, the Bohra community joined forces with UN Champion of the Earth, Afroz Shah in implementing a water body cleanup movement titled ‘Turning the Tide’ against plastic pollution.

Initiatives

The Dawoodi Bohra community kitchen, better known as FMB, is a groundbreaking initiative envisioned and started by the late His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. It has been a cause particularly close to the heart of his successor, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who has personally seen to its growth and development over the years. FMB aims to deliver one hand-cooked, wholesome meal to every Bohra household across the world, each day.

A sister initiative known as ‘Dana Committee’ complements the community kitchen by striving to ensure that not even a grain of food goes to waste. Systems are put in place so that only the required amount of food is prepared for any given occasion. If however there is excess as a result of unforeseen circumstances, the extra food is properly packaged and distributed to those who put in a request as well as those in need.

As an extension of the FMB initiative meant to reach out to the broader society, food drives are conducted on a regular basis by community members across the world. These are done either in partnership with food banks and other charities or by the community itself. Expert advice from nutritionists is shared so that people maintain a healthy diet and make the most of existing provisions so as to curb waste.

The community has also partnered with government organisations and charities in Maharashtra and other parts of India to provide specialised supplements to malnourished children in impoverished areas. Special foods are also provided to lactating mothers as well as educational sessions about the best practices to ensure healthy growth and development in young children.

Initiatives

In an attempt to remedy this situation and make sure that more people receive proper diagnosis and treatment, especially for lifestyle diseases and the more prevalent conditions where early diagnosis is most important, the community conducts free health camps at regular intervals in both rural and urban areas. Specialist doctors and medical practitioners from within the community volunteer their time and services to the cause, often travelling to remote destinations so that as many people as possible can benefit from their medical expertise.

Initiatives

The Dawoodi Bohra community is spearheading the ‘Turning the Tide’ initiative against water pollution and also undertakes various other projects to bring fresh clean water to rural areas in India. These include the installation of hand pumps, implementation of rainwater harvesting and water reclamation practices.

Another recently implemented project strives to tackle the ever growing concerns of Monsoon failure, aggressive evaporation due to higher temperatures and depleting rainfall levels in rural India, which have greatly impacted agriculture. The project has introduced farm ponds, check dams, farm bunds and desilting equipment to maximise existing water sources and provide water security to farmers. Awareness camps are also conducted in such areas to educate the populace about proper sanitary practices as well as modern conservation techniques along with how to make the most out of existing water supplies.

Conclusion

With these initiatives and more, Project Rise looks to the future and strives to enrich the lives of as many people as it can by establishing a legacy of philanthropy that will hopefully endure and inspire generations to come.

Project Rise is an umbrella initiative by the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community which sets out to synergise the various philanthropic contributions of its institutions and members into a unified entity. As the name suggests, its core aim is to raise and elevate society’s less fortunate in every aspect of life to such a level, that they too become empowered to do the same for others. It strives to foster a widespread culture of empathy, awareness and generosity which culminates in a society where no individual is neglected overlooked or marginalised.

Project Rise deals with a wide spectrum of initiatives and activities in varied fields including but not limited to healthcare, nutrition, hygiene, environmental responsibility and conservation as well as education. It aims to bring about a wholesome and comprehensive uplift in the lives of all humankind.

The inspiration for this project is deeply rooted in the teachings of Islam and the Prophetic traditions. These exhort Muslims to always strive for the betterment of others and exalt individuals who sacrifice their own needs for those of the collective, all the while establishing such acts as inherent parts of faith and essential hallmarks of true Islam.

The Prophet Mohammed states: ‘All creation is a family dependent on Allah. The most beloved of all creation to Him, therefore, is the one who benefits his family the most’.

Empowered by this philosophy of philanthropy, the Dawoodi Bohra community under the banner of Project Rise, sets out to give back and contribute to the best of its abilities, towards fostering positive and sustained change on a global level.

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