Watan, the humanitarian charity founded in Gaza in 2011, was born from the lived experience of its founder, Ahmed Al Breem.
The organisation recently joined Islam Channel as a charity partner so we spoke to its founder to find out more about his mission and what motivates him
Ahmed, a Palestinian born in exile in Algeria to Palestinian parents, spoke about the emotional weight of displacement.
“I got this feeling, I was strange in this country,” he said. “Algerians always respected Palestinians. But they called me every day ‘the Palestinian,’ and this word sometimes destroyed the heart.”
It was this experience that led him to name his charity Watan, which means ‘homeland’ — a reminder of what so many displaced people long for. “The Watan is like the home, and this is what I miss,” he said.
Human-centred care
Watan began in “a small office” in Gaza and quickly earned the confidence of donors across the world.
“We got the trust of donors from Singapore, from UK, from Australia… and this trust gave us the vision to open other branches around the world,” Al Breem explained.
That trust has enabled Watan to operate in over 21 countries, from Africa to Asia, sponsoring over 30,000 orphans and delivering hundreds of projects in education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and emergency relief.
But money alone isn’t the focus for Watan, Ahmed stressed the human-centred approach.
“The orphan does not need only the money,’ he said. “He lost the father before the money. He needs the hug before the income. He needs the care before the money. He needs the education… Maybe you cannot be the father, but you can try.”
This emotional care shapes even the smallest decisions. Even small gestures, like varying meals delivered to families in Gaza, are treated as opportunities to restore joy.
As Al Breem puts it, “You need sometimes to give him a message, you are not left alone… Maybe he will get some moments of happiness. It’s very simple, but this gives hope for life.”
Challenges and crises
The toughest challenges come during emergencies. Watan has responded to crises in Morocco, Libya, Gaza, and Sudan in the past three years.
Since Israel started its attack on Gaza, Watan has responded to the continuous crises. In Gaza, the first 100 days were particularly devastating.
Yet during this period, it has expanded from just three staff to 165 team members, enabling the organisation to operate across northern, central and southern Gaza simultaneously.
Women’s empowerment is also central to their work. Women play an essential role in childcare, community resilience and humanitarian planning. “The advice from the women is so important,” Al Breem said.
In Gaza, Watan works closely with female community leaders. The needs are urgent: “For two years, there was no hygiene pack for the women. Two years… If you cannot support the women, we cannot continue our work.”
As winter arrives, millions remain displaced in Gaza “We have two million persons living under cold and rain,” he warned. Tents, blankets and winter clothing are now lifelines for these families.
Looking ahead, Al Breem’s vision for the organisation is to continue helping people because “it’s our duty.”
