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AIM to AID

By Ibraheem Razouki, age 17 | February 27, 2023

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TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS Lamar junior Ibraheem Razouki, who fled Iraq as a child, is passionate about helping refugees. Ibraheem recently met the City of Houston’s Director of Innovation, Mr. Jesse Bounds, at the Ion to pitch his project ISO Lattice, a collection of robots that provide aid in refugee crises.

I was born in Baghdad, Iraq. My childhood was filled with danger and uncertainty. From 2003 to 2011, the country was experiencing a rapid shift in power, and armed militia groups were trying to take control of various territories. I almost died three times before the age of one due to poor living conditions and the constant threat of violence.

Eventually, my family and I were able to escape to the United States as refugees, seeking a haven from the turmoil of our homeland. In the United States, I founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called AIM to AID, which helps Muslim refugees in the Houston area get the resources they need to start new lives. We have hosted numerous donation drives and reached out to thousands of people to bring awareness to the refugee crisis through a strong social media presence along with distributing custom-made brochures across Houston. We also partnered with organizations like the Refugee Services of Texas and the Islamic Society of Greater Houston to raise awareness about the refugee crisis.

In addition to my work with AIM to AID, I have been developing a concept called ISO (Integrated Safety Operation) Lattice. This is a collection of robots that can be deployed in disaster zones to provide essential services like internet access and food and water to refugees who often do not receive the disaster relief they need, as well as assisting in natural disaster scenarios. This idea was inspired by considering my local community of Houston and its issue with hurricanes as well as my community back home in Iraq. This concept has gained recognition from venture capitalists, who named it a finalist in the Ambition Accelerator Summit, sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation and Ashoka Changemakers. I have also had the opportunity to work closely with the Mayor of Houston and the Ion, an innovation/entrepreneurship space, to bring ISO Lattice to the next level. In the coming months, I am planning a TEDx event in Houston to inspire further entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

Editor’s note: Read more about AIM to AID at hsaimtoaid.org. For updates on the TEDx event, see tedxyouthhouston23.carrd.co.

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