The Zahra Hasanaat Centre represents the vision of His Holiness Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS Saheb to honor the legacies of the Du’at before him, especially His Holiness Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin RA Saheb, in establishing public places for pluralism and progress to flourish. As the Leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Fakhruddin Saheb continues to articulate and implement the values espoused by our faith in today’s context: justice, equity, compassion, unity.
On Friday, 21st Ramadan 1443H (22nd April 2022), Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS inaugurated the new site, a two-storey, Zahra Hasanaat Center adjacent to Mazaar-e-Qutbi, Raudat-un-Noor, Roza Mubarak of Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin RA. link link
It will be a place to reflect and grow, connect and create; a place where the local community can develop their own sense of purpose and develop the skills and network they need to achieve success. It will be a place to honor the concept of Taqreeb and the spirit of true interfaith harmony. Where people regardless of caste or creed can come together to study, learn and work and develop ideas and projects.
The centre will provide open spaces for events, conferences, art displays and more. It will be a hub for research, collaboration and partnership across non profits, NGO’s and other governmental welfare activities so that they can build successful projects together and expand their network and reach. We hope these collaborative spaces provide opportunities to learn from each other’s success and benefit from lessons learnt stories of obstacles and challenges.
It will be a platform for members of the community to network, innovate and collaborate on ways to make positive local impacts. The Centre will provide a space where we can tap into the boundless talent and goodwill that exists in our neighborhoods and provide a platform to partner, plan, brainstorm, and realize successful programs.
Food and Ration
Hot meals are available daily at lunch and dinner time to any one who walks into the center – no questions asked. Ration distribution is available for families who apply for the Zahra Hasanaat ration program. Field officers and volunteers assess the application and after verification (including a home visit) advise the committee on the need of the family.
Grants, scholarships, Government aid
The centre will serve as a hub for people to enquire and receive assistance for application for scholarships, micro-grants, and government schemes such as pension plans, Aadhar card, RTE. The coordinator at the center will help persons avail of the centres network and partnerships to ensure their application is followed up to the last mile if they are genuinely applying.
Art & Culture – Exhibitions for Pluralism and Taqreeb
The space will feature murals and paintings from local artists. Our exhibitions will focus on important acts of pluralism and harmony especially and positive community building. We are welcome invitations for other displays at the Centre. If you have an artifact, painting or exhibition of photographs you’d like to submit for consideration, you can contact us.
Literacy and Learning
A library with spaces to read, books specially curated for local populations and a place for students to study and discover.
There will also be flexible learning and meeting spaces and spaces for people to relax, do their homework, or play a game of chess. The Centre is designed to serve as a hub for our neighbors, so these spaces will mostly be free and open to the public.
It will also serve as a space that can be used to host informal and planned gatherings alike. It will feature public artwork and murals.
Classes, Computers, Counseling
The second floor will have classrooms with projectors and seating and collaborative space as well as computers. Classes for English literacy, banking, Customer Sales Management (CSM), stitching and more will be available to the public to register and enroll.
Workshops and counseling sessions will also be available.
Computer classes and coding classes are in development.
Talks and Camps
The centre also hosts talks for financial inclusion, banking the unbanked, mental health and other topics included in the mission statement of Zahra Hasanaat. Medical camps have also been hosted for preventative medical screening and tests focusing on blood pressure and BMI, consultation for specialized medical concerns in the field of nephrology, neurology, gynecology, pediatrics, and dentistry – these camps offer initial screenings and also faciliate heavily subsidized detailed investigative reports and procedures during follow up. Medical professionals and experts are also invited for example for providing nutritional advice focused on Indian dietary habits.