Founder and Executive Director
Walaa Musheer Ahmed, born in 1991 in Duhok, began her community work as a volunteer at the age of 17. In 2014, she joined humanitarian response efforts supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, and in 2017 founded the Better World Organization for Community Development (BWOCD). In 2018, she represented Iraq/Kurdistan as a MENA Fellow of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and was recognized as an Influential Alumna of the University of Duhok. Walaa is a One Young World Ambassador and 2023 Summit speaker, and in 2024 was selected for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State. She continues to lead BWOCD’s work on youth empowerment, women’s rights, and community resilience.