Sanaa Aijaz
Author
Observed each year on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day recognizes humanitarian personnel who work to support people affected by conflict, disaster, displacement, and other crises.
Each year, World Humanitarian Day brings together partners from across the humanitarian ecosystem to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of humanitarian workers.
Established by the United Nations in memory of aid workers killed in the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, the day honors the courage and commitment of humanitarians worldwide.
For BLOOM Charity, World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to honor and thank our community partners, volunteers, and humanitarian aid workers across the regions we serve. Their dedication brings our mission to life and enables BLOOM to reach marginalized children and families around the world.
Together, we provide mental health services, nutritional assistance, early childhood development programs, education, and humanitarian relief to vulnerable communities. Whether serving in orphanages, shelters, displacement camps, hospitals, or remote villages, our partners and volunteers lead with compassion and dignity – helping children not only endure difficult circumstances but also heal, learn, and thrive.
This World Humanitarian Day, BLOOM is proud to recognize some of the individuals behind this vital work. Their journeys and contributions reflect the many forms humanitarian service can take – from documenting children’s stories and coordinating relief efforts to delivering healthcare and building trusted community partnerships. These aid workers and humanitarian personnel exemplify courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment.
Khalid Allaoui
Khalid Allaoui is a freelance photographer, and filmmaker based in Morocco. His journey with BLOOM began in 2018 with the organization’s first initiative- transforming the rooftop of a hospital-based orphanage into a playground. With almost no outdoor space available, the rooftop offered an opportunity to give children a safe place to run, play, and experience the joy of childhood.
Inspired by BLOOM’s mission, Khalid became the organization’s first volunteer and documented the playground’s ribbon-cutting ceremony while working at the U.S. Embassy in Morocco. Watching the children rush outside to explore their new play space had a profound impact on him. He recalls that they looked like “a flock of birds being released from a cage.”
Since then, Khalid has documented initiatives ranging from playground openings and Eid celebrations to broader humanitarian programs. Today, he coordinates BLOOM’s projects across Morocco and helps monitor and share updates on its work in Gaza through social media.
Reflecting on his journey, Khalid says,
“Personally, this experience has changed the way I see life. It has taught me that sometimes what may seem like a small thing to us can mean the world to someone else. And for me, that is what makes BLOOM’s mission so meaningful.”
Ilhame Adrane
Ilhame joined BLOOM in Morocco at the end of 2024 as the organization’s work in the country continued to expand. She came on board during the launch of BLOOM’s largest project in Agafay: a play garden and community gathering space created in the Atlas Mountains following the devastating September 2023 earthquake. Today, this space serves a hundred small villages across the region.
As a dedicated member of the local team, Ilhame supports BLOOM’s projects in Morocco and helps ensure its initiatives respond directly to community needs. She also contributes to future programs focused on children’s wellbeing and mental health in Morocco, Palestine, and beyond. Her compassion, commitment, and hands-on approach embody the spirit of BLOOM’s humanitarian mission.
“For me, BLOOM is defined by the connection between intention and impact. It is not simply about wanting to make a difference; it is about showing up, doing the work, and ensuring that difference reaches the children who need it most. What makes this work so fulfilling is the team’s dedication and selflessness. Everyone carries the mission at heart and is committed to creating meaningful outcomes for the children and communities we serve. That is why I am proud to be part of BLOOM.”
Jihan El-Husseini
Jihan El-Husseini is a US-based Palestinian journalist. Jihan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Haya Washington, a US nonprofit and independent media organization dedicated to credible, human-centered journalism. Haya Washington works to amplify Arab voices and empower women in journalism, media, and entrepreneurship. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensified, the organization’s work expanded beyond storytelling to include direct relief and humanitarian action.
A chance encounter between Jihan and BLOOM founder Amina in November 2023 opened a new chapter in BLOOM’s journey and led to a meaningful collaboration between the two organizations. Through this partnership and the commitment of local teams, BLOOM established an on-the-ground presence in Gaza and began consistently providing hot meals, potable water, fresh produce, clothing, and mental health programs and workshops for children in displacement camps.
The teams have worked across Gaza, from Rafah and Khan Younis to central Gaza, Gaza City, and the north. Despite immense challenges, they have continued to listen to communities, respond to changing needs, and find ways to reach children and families in extraordinarily difficult conditions.
Reflecting on the partnership, Jihan says,
“We may not be able to change everything, but we can ease part of the suffering, preserve human dignity, and remind people that they are not alone. This is the essence of humanitarian work. This is the strength of partnership.”
Dr. Saleh Suleiman Al-Masri
Dr. Saleh Suleiman Al-Masri is BLOOM Charity’s on-the-ground lead in Gaza, supporting the organization’s humanitarian response across local communities. He works closely with BLOOM’s teams to identify urgent needs and assist with the procurement, coordination, and delivery of aid.
Amid mass displacement, severe resource shortages, restricted access, damaged infrastructure, and rapidly evolving conditions, Dr. Saleh’s deep knowledge of the region and unwavering commitment are vital to sustaining BLOOM’s work and ensuring its programs remain grounded in the realities facing children and families across Gaza.
In recognition of BLOOM’s humanitarian efforts, Dr. Suleiman said,
“On World Humanitarian Day, I wish I could present BLOOM Charity with a ‘Humanity Shield’ in recognition of its remarkable, effective, and deeply meaningful humanitarian role in providing emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced people across the cities and communities of the Gaza Strip. For me, working with BLOOM has been much more than participating in relief activities. It has been a deep human and professional experience. Through this journey, we learned that genuine humanitarian work requires sincerity, commitment, rapid response, and the ability to work under immense pressure, alongside professionalism, transparency, and respect for human dignity.”
Nafisa Entezar
Nafisa Entezar is the CEO, co-founder, and president of Amena Mobile Clinic, a humanitarian nonprofit that delivers essential healthcare and medicines to vulnerable families across Afghanistan. Under Nafisa’s leadership, the organization brings compassionate care to communities with limited access to vital services.
BLOOM is proud to partner with Nafisa and her team to support mental health and well-being of children living in refugee camps and underserved communities. Together, BLOOM and Amena Mobile Clinic launched a children’s mental health initiative that local partners have described as introducing forms of care previously unavailable to many children.
The partnership has also created moments of comfort and celebration. During Eid 2026, the teams delivered toys to children facing difficult circumstances and distributed gifts to approximately 120 hospitalized children at Ataturk Hospital. Volunteer groups extended the outreach to seven tribal communities, reaching more than 700 children.
Nafisa’s work demonstrates how trusted local leadership, medical care, and mental health support can come together to serve children holistically and preserve dignity in challenging circumstances.
When asked to share her thoughts on her association with BLOOM, Nafisa said,
“What moves me most about BLOOM is its commitment to caring for the whole child, not only their physical needs but also their emotional well-being and happiness. Inshallah, we are especially excited to continue this beautiful partnership with future projects, including creating a children’s playground at the hospital and providing psychotherapist support to help children and their families cope with the emotional challenges of chronic illness. I am truly grateful to BLOOM for trusting us to help bring its beautiful mission to the children of Afghanistan, and I pray our partnership continues to bring healing, hope, laughter, and love to many more children for years to come.”
BLOOM is deeply grateful to all the doctors and other medical professionals who have generously volunteered their time and expertise, particularly in support of our programs in Gaza. Their courage, compassion, and service have brought care, comfort, and hope to children and families experiencing profound hardship.
We extend special recognition to Dr. Irfan Galaria, a plastic surgeon based in Chantilly, Virginia, with more than 20 years of medical experience. In 2024, Dr. Galaria visited BLOOM’s program in Gaza, dedicating his time and expertise to understanding and supporting our work.
Since its inception in 2017, BLOOM’s humanitarians have served as ambassadors of its mission and conduits of empathy, transforming compassion into meaningful action for vulnerable children across Morocco, Egypt, Gaza, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Through their courage and unwavering commitment, BLOOM has funded 12 playgrounds, providing approximately 24,000 children with safe places to play; hosted more than 70 holiday, Ramadan, and Eid celebrations; delivered over 250 enrichment programs; and raised and distributed approximately $1 million in aid for Gaza. In Gaza and Palestine alone, BLOOM and its partners have also provided more than 2 million meals and 2 million liters of water.
BLOOM continues to expand its global initiatives for children and families in crisis, recognizing and deeply appreciating the indispensable contributions of local partners who help us deliver holistic care worldwide.
