Raed Al Saleh

Raed Al-Saleh is a former businessman who is now the Head of the Syrian Civil Defence (also known as The White Helmets), a volunteer organisation created in 2013, made of former bakers, teachers, electricians and other “ordinary” Syrians who now work together as rescue workers saving tens of thousands of lives from the rubble of air-strikes in rebel-held areas of Syria. Under Mr. Al-Saleh leadership, the Syrian Civil Defence were awarded the Right Livelihood Award and were Nobel Peace Prize nominees. 

Mr. Al-Saleh joined the Civil Defence in 2013 when they first started their trainings in Idleb where he lived. Soon after, Mr. Al-Saleh set up a further 22 teams in Idlib over the next 18 months. In 2014, he was appointed Head of Civil Defence, leading the organisation to encompass 3000 search and rescue volunteers and 114 stations. 

Mr. Al-Saleh's acheivements in the field of peace and humanitarian aid  have earned him many accolades both nationally and internationally, including being named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2017 by the Time Magazine.