This article was originally published in the Lowell Sun.
WESTFORD — Volunteers from the Dawoodi Bohra community, under the banner of Project Rise, the community’s global philanthropic arm, recently joined forces with Habitat for Humanity to build and improve affordable homes in several locations across the country, including in Westford.
This initiative aligns with the community’s efforts to address the country’s growing housing affordability crisis.
Coordinated “Build Day” activities took place in Westford, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Collin County in Texas, and Washington, D.C., where volunteers worked alongside construction professionals to support families facing housing insecurity.
The focus was on building and repairing homes in partnership with families living in overcrowded or substandard conditions, with projects ranging from structural framing to painting and interior finishing. In total, more than 90 volunteers contributed over 500 service hours in a single day, supporting the construction and rehabilitation of multiple housing units across participating cities.
The effort forms part of a broader, ongoing collaboration between the Dawoodi Bohra community and Habitat for Humanity to expand access to safe, stable and affordable housing.
“Since our beginning in 1976, Habitat has brought together people of all faiths and backgrounds to build safe, affordable housing with families around the world,” said Charlita Stephens-Walker, vice president of corporate partnerships and cause marketing at Habitat for Humanity International. “Working with Habitat allows people to engage those around them and make meaningful change in their communities, live their faith and offer a unique opportunity to love their neighbor. We are grateful to the Dawoodi Bohra community for their support of Habitat and for helping to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
“It’s not every day that a partner walks through your door and asks to help launch a national build day — but that’s exactly how this began,” said Sheilagh Carlisle, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.
“What started as a conversation with Taher and Fatema Esmail of The Dawoodi Bohra Community of Boston about supporting local families in Greater Boston and Lowell, quickly grew into something much bigger,” Carlisle said. “Their vision and generosity was the spark that ignited a nationwide movement.”
“Through Habitat for Humanity International, what began right here in our community expanded into a landmark partnership with Project Rise from the Dawoodi Bohra community — multiplying the donation, the builders, and the cities touched by this build day many times over” Carlisle said. “We are so proud that Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell was the seed of it all. Moments like this are a powerful reminder that the biggest changes often start with a single, generous act of neighboring.”
For participating volunteers, the initiative reflects a longstanding commitment to service and civic responsibility.
“We believe that strong communities are built on the foundation of secure housing,” said Taher Esmail, a volunteer from the Boston Dawoodi Bohra community. “By working alongside Habitat for Humanity across multiple cities, our volunteers are contributing directly to improving living conditions for families and strengthening the neighborhoods they are part of.”
In several locations, families were present during the build, working alongside volunteers and future neighbors. Many are expected to move into completed homes in the coming months, gaining access to stable housing that supports better health, educational outcomes, and economic mobility.
This collaboration is taking place under Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic initiative, which focuses on addressing critical challenges in areas such as housing, healthcare, education, nutrition, water security and environmental sustainability. Through partnerships with established organizations and local stakeholders, Project Rise delivers targeted, community-driven solutions designed to create measurable and lasting impact.
The Dawoodi Bohras are a Muslim community with a global presence, known for their commitment to education, civic engagement and social welfare. Through initiatives such as Project Rise, the community works to improve quality of life and contribute meaningfully to the societies in which they live.
