Abdulrahman Al-Mawwas is a co-founder of the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets. Originally a mechanical engineer from Aleppo, Syria, Al-Mawwas responded to the devastation of the Syrian Civil War by co-founding a group of civil defense rescuers in 2013, which eventually became the White Helmets. After bombings and airstrikes, the White Helmets rush to the scene to minimize injury and property damage, and to save as many lives as possible. The White Helmets were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, and a documentary on the group’s work, titled “White Helmets,” won an Oscar in 2017. Al-Mawwas now serves as vice president of the group and leads coordination with donors.
