POWERED BY FANARFrom the operating room in the UK to the frontlines in Gaza, Dr. Mohammed Tahir shared how his time in Gaza inspired him to create Humvol in our Impact Engine Webinar, moderated by President Rama Chakaki.
Dr. Tahir is a world-renowned orthopedic and peripheral nerve surgeon based in London and Baghdad. He co-founded Humvol, a platform connecting volunteers with global humanitarian causes.
Read the story behind his motto, “If not me, then who?”
A Calling Beyond Borders
For Dr. Tahir, Gaza was a symbol of freedom and liberty, but witnessing the daily genocide on his phone turned that belief into action. He left behind his surgical career in the UK to perform nearly 1,200 life-saving surgeries under fire. What began as an act of duty became a lifelong mission of service. “It’s easy to say someone else will do it,” he shared. “But real change begins when we take responsibility, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
Humanity Amid Hardship
When asked about what he witnessed in Gaza, Dr. Tahir recounted moments when patients who had lost everything still expressed faith and calm resilience. “One man, who had just lost his eye, simply said, ‘Alhamdulillah.’ It was extraordinary.” Through these encounters, Dr. Tahir learned that humanity’s greatest strength lies in compassion that endures even in chaos. “Everybody was driven by this feeling that we wanted to make the world better, that we couldn’t accept the status quo,” he said.
The Mission: A Documentary
The Mission, a powerful film that captured four months of Dr. Tahir’s life on the frontlines, later documented his time in Gaza. The documentary shows the realities of the ongoing genocide, featuring personal stories like that that of Mariam, a young girl whose arm Dr. Tahir successfully replanted after a bombing. The Mission premiered at the Amman Film Festival and later at the London Palestine Film Festival, and it continues to move audiences worldwide.
Building Humvol
Out of this experience, Humvol was born, a volunteer technology platform that connects people who want to make a difference with NGOs and global projects. “We wanted to bring together those with ideas and those who want to bring change,” Dr. Tahir explained. With a team of 20 developers, UX designers, and psychologists, Humvol is building an AI-powered app to match volunteers to causes such as medical relief, climate response, and education.
From Gaza to Global Impact
Through our startup incubator, Humvol continues to grow with mentorship and resources to scale its impact. His story reminds us that resilience, whether in the operating room or the startup world, begins with purpose. “You can complain,”he said, “or you can ask yourself, ‘If not me, then who?’ He then earned the title Ambassador of Humanity, and as Chief Surgeon at Fezer Global and Co-Founder of Humvol, he continues to show that startups can, and should, serve humanity.
For Dr. Mohammed Tahir, innovators must use their skills, empathy, and courage to build a future where technology truly serves humanity.
Moved by Dr. Tahir’s mission to serve humanity? Read more founder stories of resilience and see what’s next at https://qstp.qa/events/
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