As the environmental body of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Burhani Foundation strives to implement eco-friendly practices in major community events as well as utilise these gatherings as a platform to generate mass awareness.
In November 2022, 45,000 community members gathered 15 days to attend Istifada Ilmiyya, a series of educational seminars and cultural programs for members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, Surat, which is the community’s premier educational institute.
Through the course of this event, major efforts were made to achieve our target of a zero waste gathering. Some of the measures put in place include:
- Using of biodegradable cutlery, made of bagasse, during lunch and dinner
- Strategic planting of dustbins to assist segregated dumping of waste
- Recycling and composting
- Promoting BYRB – Bring Your Reusable Bag / Bottle
Burhani Foundation also set up an ‘Experiential Learning Centre’ at Al Jamea’s Sports ground. The pavilion consisted of a walk-through exhibition which highlighted case studies about its five primary areas of activity and ongoing projects, namely –
- Water conservation – rainwater harvesting and well rejuvenation initiatives.
- Renewable energy – installation of solar panels at community centres.
- Green cover – beautification of public places and vertical gardening.
- Zero Waste & Sustainability – paper recycling drives, say no to single-use plastics and organising sustainable community gatherings.
- Cleanliness – beach and river clean up drives under the ‘Turning the Tide Against Plastic Pollution’ campaign
The pavilion welcomed nearly 4,000 community members to explore and reflect upon contemporary challenges in environmental conservation and asked them to offer suggestions of their own.
