Interview with Ammar Kamil

[Meridian International Center]

My name is Ammar I. Kamil , I am an Iraqi doctor residing in Iraq now. I work as a director of the training and development unit in a primary healthcare sector.

I'm very interested in voluntary work and I am now one of the TEDxBaghdad team. We try to coordinate and prepare for the TEDx conference which was held for the 1st time in Baghdad in November this year, and with our enthusiastic and optimistic spirit we will make the impossible possible.

What type of service are you involved in?
Medical service (detailed in the next answer) 
Charity: Raising funds for orphans and underprivileged families.
Public Awareness: While charity does help a person in need temporarily, I believe that the right piece of advice can help change a dire situation permanently. Therefore I am constantly involved in public awareness and public educations speeches and campaigns throughout the year.

How did you get started in your volunteer work?
I started my voluntary work 4 yrs ago, during the bad security situation in Iraq , I worked as a medical volunteer in a local clinic near my home to treat injured patients and provide 1st aid to victims of IEDs, and I tried to educate the non medical personals how on 1st aid procedures. We worked as one team that managed to save the lives of many patients and was of great benefit at that miserable time.

Who does your work support?
I am self-organized; I believe that small independent projects with low budgets have a greater affect on the long run.

What are your biggest challenges?
My biggest challenges are concentrated in how to broaden voluntary work in my country and how to improve Philanthropy and the sprit of assisting in our youth, despite the existence of poverty and unemployment.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
My greatest accomplishment would be managing to plant a hopeful smile on a few faces, and in return, obtaining a modest prayer.

What is your favorite occupation?
My favorite occupation is medical training and education. I'm very interested in training and development, and I feel that my wide imagination, love of change and creation in addition to my skills in communication and leadership assist me in that field.

Who do you most admire?
My mother, she always pushes me foreword to help people and give assistance whenever I can. I remember her advice all the time to keep a smile and plant smiles in all difficult circumstances.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
The gift of finding simple solutions to complicated dilemmas. I would always like to use the pencil when the pen won't work. 

What is your motto?
"Any one who doesn't add values to life, would be burden to it"

 

 

 

 

Do you have questions for Ammar? Leave comments and questions as "replies" below.

[Kaitrin Morrison]

Ammar, I really like your answer about what gift you would like to possess. Being able to come up with simple solutions during difficult situations truly is a gift. I believe we would all like to think to "use the pencil when the pen won't work" !

[Windy Previl]

Congratulations Ammar !!! You are doing a very great job for your community. Keep up!