There is a wealth of literature describing old age and its many facets, but as with most things in life, knowing something and experiencing it are two different things.
Shujauddin Durbar, a young Dawoodi Bohra student in his mid-twenties, visits old-age homes from time to time to understand how elderly residents spend their days.
“On every visit, I am moved by the stories the elders share about their life. To meet with them and share some light moments has always been an eye-opening experience. Not only is it humbling, but also a powerful reminder to cherish and take care of our elders,” he said.
On the International Day of Care and Support, October 29, 2025, volunteers from the Dawoodi Bohra community of Secunderabad visited the Amma Nana Old Age Home in Hyderabad alongside members from the Centre for Caregiver Training and Development (CCTD), an NGO, to share meaningful conversations and compassion with elders.
Since June this year, the community has been working closely with CCTD to conduct focused training and upskilling sessions under their POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment & Resilience) initiative.
POWER is a four-month program that combines one month of intensive classroom instruction, including hostel accommodation and meals, with a three-month internship. The initiative aims to tackle interconnected challenges — senior care, the burden of caregiving on families, and the need to enhance recognition and empowerment for caregiving as a professional career.
These experiences equip participants with the skills required to be professional caregivers and contribute meaningfully to India’s expanding care economy, which encompasses care work — paid and unpaid, delivered through various public and private sectors.
“We organise old-age home visits as part of our curriculum to help students develop empathy, engage in meaningful conversations with seniors, and assist in daily activities,” said Ms. Manisha, a trainer at CCTD. “Being joined by Dawoodi Bohra volunteers adds immense value — their presence lifts our spirits, and the seniors truly enjoy interacting with them.”
Caregiving has emerged as one of the most essential yet undervalued pillars of India’s socio-economic framework. A Think 20 policy brief estimates that the country’s 2.5 million Anganwadi Workers, Auxiliary Nurse-Midwives, and Accredited Social Health Activists — alongside nearly 50 million domestic workers — form the backbone of national care services.
With India’s ageing population on the rise, the need for skilled caregivers is more urgent than ever, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where families often shoulder caregiving responsibilities with little to no support. However, limited access to professional training and employment opportunities continues to constrain the availability of qualified caregivers.
The POWER initiative aims to tackle interconnected challenges — senior care, the burden of caregiving on families, and the need to enhance recognition and empowerment for caregiving as a professional career.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Ammar Shakir, a member of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Secunderabad, said, “Caregiving is not just a service — it is an expression of humanity. In our faith, caring for elders is both a blessing and a moral duty. At Amma Nana Old Age Home, our volunteers offer the same warmth and respect that we offer to our own elders at home.”
“It has been a pleasure to collaborate with the Dawoodi Bohra community in training professional geriatric caregivers,” said Priya Anant, the Director at CCTD.
“Our shared vision is to build a strong and dedicated cadre for home-based senior care. This is a challenging but crucial mission, and we value partners who understand both the urgency and importance of creating sustainable solutions,” she continued.
The partnership is undertaken under the banner of Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic initiative that aims to tackle challenges in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to make the world a better place for all.
Disclaimer: All images featured on this article were taken with the prior consent of participants.
