Across construction sites scattered from Palghar in Maharashtra to Bengaluru in Karnataka, a quiet but powerful revolution is unfolding. It is not just bricks being laid or walls going up — it’s hope being built, dignity being restored and communities coming together.

Till date over 56,000 individuals — including corporate leaders, professionals, students and youth — have joined Habitat for Humanity India’s Volunteer Build programme, lending their hands and hearts to build homes alongside families in need. After a brief pandemic-induced pause, the programme resumed this year with fresh energy and renewed purpose. 

A new chapter of volunteer engagement: 2025 

The year began on a strong note with Pretium Enterprise Services (PES) India collaborating with Habitat India in the first volunteer build of 2025 in Hakki Pikki Colony, Bengaluru. Volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with tribal families — painting, carrying concrete blocks and helping build sanitary units.

The momentum continued with Houlihan Lokey, a global investment bank, whose team followed suit in Palghar, Maharashtra, reaffirming that giving back is as vital as growing forward.

In March, Habitat India hosted a special Legacy Build in Bengaluru, bringing together business leaders, international students and volunteers from Japan. Led by Anthony Miller, long-time Habitat volunteer and member of the Asia-Pacific Development Council, the build was a five-day immersion in compassion, cultural exchange and community that helped 3 families from the Hakki Pikki tribal community build a home of their own.

“My family is looking forward to our new home, but the most excited is my granddaughter, who is expecting a baby,” said Parani, one of the future homeowners. “She will raise her child in a safe and secure home.”

For Mr. Miller, it was his 17^th global build with Habitat. “Each build is a powerful reminder of the impact a home can have on a family. Housing transforms lives,” he shared. “This experience becomes even more meaningful when shared with my daughter and fellow volunteers.”

Samsung village #13: a model of long-term engagement

In February and April, Habitat India welcomed 47 volunteers from Samsung C&T Korea and India to Saware village, Palghar as part of the Samsung Village #13 Project. These visits marked the fourth volunteer build by Samsung employees under this initiative. In this project Habitat India is building 15 homes for the Warli tribal community and improved sanitation units in three government schools.

Through hands-on participation, the volunteers gained a deeper understanding of the housing need and the impact of decent shelter on education, health and dignity. The build also included WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) awareness sessions for children and families to encourage long-term behavioural change.

“Through our Volunteer Builds, we don’t just build houses — we build a shared vision of a better, more inclusive future,” said Anand Kumar Bolimera, National Director, Habitat for Humanity India. “Volunteers like those from Samsung, Pretium, Houlihan Lokey and our Legacy Build inspire action and drive sustainable change.”

“It was truly an amazing experience. We are from the construction industry but today we got to experience how it actually feels to get your hands dirty and move that brick. It feels good to know that we are contributing to building somebody’s dream home and I have given my best today.” - Meenal, Samsung C & T.

“It felt so good to see all these people coming together to build our home. They carried the bricks and contributed to building the wall of our home with us. We enjoyed working alongside these volunteers from Samsung C &T.” – Gurunath, Habitat homeowner.  

Why Volunteer?

A day on a Habitat build site is more than a CSR activity. It’s a transformative experience. Volunteers immerse themselves in unfamiliar communities, learn from local resilience and form bonds that go beyond cultural or geographic boundaries.

You do not need to be a builder to build change. Every hand that lifts a brick helps raise a wall of dignity. Every hour spent in service helps rewrite the future of a family.

Join Us

Whether you are a corporation looking to strengthen your CSR engagement, a school eager to instil social responsibility or a young individual wanting to make a difference — Habitat India’s Volunteer Build Programme welcomes you.

Together, we can build more than homes.

We can build communities.

We can build hope.