Palestinian, from gaza; seeking Associate Degree/Diploma degree in Global health policy and is enrolled at Hamad bin khalifa University.
I’m a Palestinian dentist from Gaza. Like many, back in 2018 I had to leave Gaza. I did not come back since.
When I boarded the plane to Turkey, I was hopeful for a brighter future with a partner I loved. But life had other plans. I soon realized I couldn’t legally work as a dentist in Turkey. Rather than give up, I pivoted.
I pursued a master’s in public health, and just before graduation, my marriage ended, and I moved to Gaziantep for work for Al-Ameen for Humanitarian Support.
Many Palestinians me included do not have the luxury of being born in our homeland. I was born in Yemen. Fate will
eventually put Yemen on my radar screen again.
Today, I coordinate health programs in Yemen, including a volunteer outreach in remote coastal areas with limited healthcare access. I lead assessments and coordinate inclusion of amputees in Taiz Prosthetics Centre services, covering transport,
accommodation, and treatment. These experiences showed me the impact of targeted interventions and strengthened my commitment to studying the socio-political and economic roots of inequality through Global Health Policy.
However, due to changes to the structure of humanitarian work, I have again
chosen the “road less taken”. I felt that my strength really lies in my ability to adjust my sails to accommodate a life plan that I have not envisaged earlier.
I am fortunate to have secured scholarship to the HBK University in Qatar. I will need to raise 40% of my tuition to join the
program.
I hope that the wind will eventually fill my sails and lead me to brighter horizons.
Why Would Donors Fund You?
Donors would be investing in someone who turns adversity into action. I come from marginalized communities—I’ve lived the consequences of broken systems. Working in Gaza and Yemen showed me that it's not just about aid programs, but about unjust policies that leave entire populations behind. I want to be part of changing that. My goal is to ensure no one is left behind, through impactful, justice-driven work grounded in real-life experience.
How Do You Plan to Payback?
I plan to give back by establishing an NGO focused on designing and advising inclusive social interventions in Palestine and other marginalized contexts. Informed by UN reports highlighting the urgent need to integrate persons with disabilities into humanitarian and development efforts, I aim to lead rights-based, equity-driven initiatives that ensure their full participation in society. Drawing on my field experience in health and rehabilitation programs, I also hope to mentor young practitioners working in crisis settings and contribute to platforms shaping more just and inclusive humanitarian responses.
Volunteer Work/Social Capital
In Gaza, I volunteered in public school clinics, providing free dental care to underserved students
In Istanbul, I joined Yan Yana, a Bir Iz project fostering integration between Syrian and Turkish children through play in over 10 cities
In Hatay and Reyhanli, I volunteered with Al-Ameen and the King Salman Centre to support earthquake-affected communities with relief and medical aid—especially the cochlear implant campaign, where I witnessed children hearing for the first time in their lives.
In Yemen, I assisted Al-Ameen’s joint replacement campaign in Marib and a cancer initiative in Hadramout offering awareness and surgeries for children.
What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements
- I hold a Master’s in Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Dentistry.
- I earned a certificate in Refugees and Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford's Refugee Studies Center.
- I completed trainings in program management, safeguarding, equity, and inequalities.
- I was awarded multiple partial scholarships from the University of Glasgow, University of Exeter, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar to study Global Health Policy.
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