Empowering change together
Nina Ng, President and Founder of Help Me Live USA
Nina is a Chinese American nurse who was born and raised in New York City. She has served as an emergency medicine registered nurse, hospital administrator, and humanitarian leader for over 15 years. She has worked in numerous conflict settings and war zones including Haiti, Iraq, Bangladesh, Mexico, Ukraine, Sierra Leone, and Gaza.
Several years ago, Ms. Ng left the hospital setting in the United States in order to dedicate more of her time to humanitarian aid. Her calling to help underserved populations has been so strong that she founded her own non-profit organization, Help Me Live USA, in 2023.
Nina is currently a nomad who lives in different parts of the globe in between work assignments. She has a great love for children, nature, and animals.
Dr. Shaima Alghamdi, Operations Director
Dr. Shaima Alghamdi, an extraordinary pediatric surgeon from Saudi Arabia, is currently serving as our Gaza Operations Manager. With over seven years of practice in pediatric surgery as well as an array of humanitarian aid experience, she has been a valuable asset to our team.
Dr. Alghamdi’s first medical mission took place in Jordan’s Zaatari camp, where she cared for Syrian refugees. It was her first encounter with patients who fled from war, which left her with intense emotions. To this day, she recalls the stories told to her by the Syrian children she encountered–the work they had to do at a young age in order to support their families and how poor their living conditions were. At Zaatari camp, Shaima worked as a physician and a teacher at the same time, spending half of her days performing procedures at a surgical clinic then volunteering the rest of her time teaching kids arts and crafts in a classroom setting.
Ms. Alghamdi continues to grow as a humanitarian by working in countries such as Yemen, Gambia, Burkina Faso, and most recently, in Gaza. She notes that her missions have empowered her by making her more proficient and giving her greater awareness of what the healthcare needs are in low-resource communities and conflict zones.
Gaza was Shaima’s first combat zone mission. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. She spent her time volunteering as a surgeon at European Gaza Hospital, where she witnessed the intense suffering of those affected by war. Day and night, Dr. Alghamdi experienced active warfare as bombs and gunshots went off near her location. This resulted in mass casualties, trauma cases, and an ever-rising death toll.
We are grateful for Shaima’s bravery and continued commitment. She is a brilliant human being who brings light to those around her, even in the darkest moments. As our Gaza Operations Manager, Dr. Alghamdi will oversee our mission there as we look to continue providing medical care, food, and water to those in need as well as activities that promote the mental health of children.
Kirsten Else, Coordinator for the Medical Emergencies Network
Kirsten’s diverse career spans across various roles and industries, all unified by a commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations through innovative solutions, strategic development, and dedicated support. She’s worked with children as a youth leader, served as a development coordinator in London, worked as a web developer, and is a photographer.
In her current role, Ms. Else oversees referrals and medical cases for patients in Gaza and Egypt. She facilitates access to essential services such as medical evacuations, emergencies, medication, and triage referrals. To date, our program has helped more than 11,000 Gazans.
Samah Mansuor Shalayl – Gaza Education Manager, Lead School Teacher
Miss Samah is a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for children in Gaza. Her commitment to teaching is a testament to her resilience, compassion, and unwavering support for education amidst the ravages of war.
Miss Samah is a graduate of Al-Quds Open University, with degrees in Education and English Literature. At just 23 years old, her life exemplifies remarkable perseverance.
Working as an English teacher and a translator before the war, this past year has been filled with personal hardships, from the bombing of her family home and multiple displacements. Yet, despite these circumstances, she has remained committed to her community and to the children of Gaza.
Miss Farahat is our first-ever Help Me Live USA school teacher. In her classroom, she is known for her warmth, creativity, and optimism. She employs innovative teaching methods to engage her students and creates a safe, supportive learning environment.
Her lesson plans go beyond academics, always incorporating emotional and psychological support to help students as well as their parents cope with the challenges of living amidst the daily violence of genocide.
Samah continues to be a symbol of hope and comfort for her students and the entire HMLUSA team. She embodies the strength and courage of those who refuse to let war define their lives.
Under her guidance and leadership, we have expanded the size of our school to fit four grades of students and now have three new teachers for mathematics, Arabic, and religion – in addition to English.
Through Samah’s work, she is empowering a new generation to dream, learn, and build a future of peace.
Mohammad Ibrahim, Gaza Logistics Commander
Mohammad Ali, also known as Mohammad Ibrahim among his people, is a bright young Palestinian man who recently turned 15 years old. Prior to the devastating war on Gaza, he achieved many accomplishments.
Mohammad was a robotics engineer who created cars that operate automatically or by human control. Additionally, he built a submarine for an international competition on behalf of Palestine.
Mr. Ali notes that a mentor of his is Thomas White, head of the United Nations (UN) in Gaza. Through interactions with Thomas and other internationals, Mohammad improved his English to the point where he was appointed as a speaker with the Chinese delegation from the UN in Gaza.
Despite his young age and at times, difficult circumstances, Mohammad studied directing, editing, photography, dubbing, acting, voice acting, radio broadcasting, journalism, and presenting. He was initially given the chance to travel to the West Bank and Jerusalem January 2024, but his trip was canceled due to the war.
Although his dreams were destroyed, Mohammad did not despair and vows to never despair. Mr. Ali’s primary goal now is to help his Palestinian people and his secondary goal is to provide humanitarian aid around the world.
Mohammad first crossed paths with Help Me Live USA in April 2024 when they met in Rafah. A few months later, he expressed wanting to be a part of our NGO. Since then, he has become our Logistics Coordinator in Gaza—a role that he assumes with much pride. Mohammad executes food and water distributions, assists with pricing items for hygiene kits, takes photos and videos at our school and clinics, and identifies gaps within the community for us to address.
Mohammad hopes to achieve his dream of leaving Gaza to study abroad with the aim of returning to rebuild his land alongside his people.
Kurt Budiarto, Program Coordinator
Kurt Budiarto holds a graduate degree in Business Administration from the USA and a diploma in Social Media Marketing from a Canadian college.
With over a decade of experience in social media since 2014, Kurt combines his skills in digital storytelling as the producer, director, and editor of a YouTube channel dedicated to animal rescue.
His deep passion for humanitarian causes, particularly world politics and human rights, drives his commitment to impactful and ethical storytelling, making him a devoted advocate for positive change.
Mr. Budiarto currently serves Gaza as our charity’s Social Media Coordinator for YouTube and TikTok.
Dr. Rawan Said Sehweil, Medical Director
Dr. Rawan Said Sehweil, a 28-year-old General Practitioner from the Gaza Strip, Palestine, serves as the Medical Director of Help Me Live-USA. A dedicated and compassionate doctor, Dr. Sehweil’s journey in medicine is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others.
Her father, a visionary leader and humanitarian, was the founder of the Union of Health Committees, the Seeds of Hope Charity Association, and the director of Al Awda Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. He also established the Al Awda Health Center in Rafah, which was later renamed in his honor as “Sehweil Health Center.” His tireless efforts in the medical and humanitarian fields inspired Dr. Sehweil to follow in his footsteps and dedicate her life to serving her community.
In early 2024, Dr. Sehweil’s father was diagnosed with brain cancer. Amid the devastation of the genocide in Gaza, the Turkish Friendship Hospital—specialized in cancer treatment—was bombed, cutting off his access to life-saving chemotherapy and medications. Despite continuous efforts to secure permission for his transfer outside Gaza for treatment, the unbearable delay caused his condition to deteriorate quickly. On February 29, 2024, after battling the disease for a year, he passed away. To add to the heartbreak, the permission for his transfer was granted only a month after his death. This devastating loss profoundly impacted Dr. Sehweil, strengthening her determination to continue her father’s legacy and commitment to serving her community.
Dr. Sehweil also endured immense personal loss during the Rafah invasion, where her home was completely demolished, and her farmland was destroyed. Despite the difficult living conditions, she remains resolute in her mission to honor her father’s legacy by continuing his work in healthcare and humanitarian organizations.
Dr. Sehweil’s educational journey reflects her resilience. She studied at the International University of Africa in Sudan, where she lived for eight years due to the wars in Gaza and the ongoing blockade. During her time in Sudan, she also witnessed the country’s coup before returning to Gaza to serve her community.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Sehweil is deeply passionate about animal welfare, especially caring for dogs. She finds solace and joy in advocating for their well-being while balancing her medical responsibilities.
Through her role as a doctor and Medical Director, Dr. Sehweil combines her expertise, personal drive, and humanitarian spirit to bring hope and healing to those in need. Her work not only embodies the values her father instilled in her but also stands as a testament to her resilience and commitment to rebuilding lives amidst unimaginable challenges.
Dr. Ibrahim, Dentist
Dr. Ibrahim was born in Libya in 1978 to a Palestinian family and spent his early years moving between countries, including Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. In 2003, he returned to Gaza to begin a journey of building a life and career in his homeland.
A graduate of oral and dental medicine from Syria (1996–2002), Dr. Ibrahim returned to Gaza to complete a year-long internship, pass the licensing exam, and officially open a dental clinic in 2005. However, the years that followed were marked by significant challenges, including the onset of the siege on Gaza and the devastating wars of 2008, 2012, and 2014.
During the 2014 war, Dr. Ibrahim lost everything—his home, car, and clinic. Despite losses exceeding $35,000, he rebuilt his life from the ground up, opening a new dental center, constructing a home, and restoring a sense of stability for his family. This journey of resilience reflects not just personal determination but also a commitment to serving his community through healthcare and humanitarian work.
Now, Dr. Ibrahim and his people in Gaza face an even worse tragedy—one of extermination and annihilation. With constant bombings, destruction, and displacement, the oppression they endure has stripped them of everything, leaving nothing to lose, not even dreams. The best they can hope for is to sleep without fear of bombs or to wake up in the morning and find something to eat.
Despite these unimaginable hardships, Dr. Ibrahim remains steadfast in his mission to serve and support his oppressed community. He stands as a symbol of resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to bringing hope and healing to the people of Gaza, even in the darkest of times.
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