250+ Interfaith volunteers from Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other faith affiliations came together to build homes over Interfaith Harmony Week
The “Build for Unity” event brings people together of different backgrounds and faiths to break down barriers and build unity and homes.
Earlier last month, hundreds of volunteers from various backgrounds and religious affiliations joined together to build interfaith unity and homes with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. The week-long “Build for Unity” event took place over Interfaith Harmony Week (the weeklong event designated by the United Nations to promote harmony between all people regardless of faith).
Habitat piloted Build for Unity in Sacramento in 2016 as a way of combatting Islamophobia during a time of great negative national rhetoric against Muslims. Since the pilot Sacramento Build for Unity project, over 30 cities across the US have started their own Build for Unity projects.
Akram Keval, chair of the Habitat Interfaith Build for Unity Committee, has participated in Build for Unity every year since the pilot year in 2016. “What makes me involved in this project is that it makes a difference in people’s lives. It gives them hope, it gives them a future and it gives them a place to call home,” said Akram. “Build for Unity is a special project because it brings all faiths together, it builds bridges amongst communities.”
For Syed Naqvi who works full-time as a cell phone technician, the impact of Build for Unity is personal. His family immigrated to the US from Pakistan, where their religious beliefs had made them a target of extremist movements. While now safe, the family of 7 currently lives in a 1-bedroom apartment filled with pest invasions. This week they worked alongside volunteers to build their future home. With every swing of a hammer, their visions of the future become more real. “I feel there is love in the foundation of this home,” said Syed.
This year’s #BuildforUnity event raised $54,000 and engaged well over 250 volunteers from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and other faith affiliations in helping build 5 homes for low-income families in our region. The homes are part of a future 13-home Habitat for Humanity community in South Sacramento that will provide affordable housing to over 60 low-income families, including 40 children.
Click here to see all the photos from this year’s event!
Interested in getting your faith community involved in the build or joining the Build for Unity Committee to help plan Build for Unity 2023? The event will take place February 1st-5th, 2023. Find out more at www.HabitatGreaterSac.org/BuildforUnity or email Brianna Lowrie at BLowrie@HabitatGreaterSac.org to learn how to sign-up!
