Saleh Said Nofal
From orphaned child to humanitarian founder — a journey of resilience, vision, and transformative purpose.
The story behind Unity for Humanity Foundation is not one of theory or privilege, but of lived experience, profound loss, and unwavering determination to ensure no child endures what he endured.
The Foundation of Resilience
A childhood that forged an unbreakable spirit
1981
Born into Humility
Saleh Said Nofal was born in the village of Jayyous in the northern West Bank, in a modest home made up of separated rooms, with open ground between them, where rain and cold freely passed through.
In winter, moving from one room to another was not a simple task, but required crossing mud and water.
Childhood
The Single Pair of Shoes
There was only one pair of shoes in the house. Shoes for school... and for life. If they got wet, there was no replacement.
On harsh winter nights, it was necessary to wake up repeatedly to empty the water leaking into the house, so the shoes would not flood, and so going to school would remain possible.
The Leaking Pot: A Life Lesson
In that humble home, a simple metal pot became the most profound teacher. It was not merely a kitchen utensil... It was his first philosophical lesson in life.
From this moment, a child formed his first deep conviction: poverty is not only the absence of money, but a defect in the structure of life itself.
Childhood Labor & Responsibility
Carrying burdens beyond his years
From Age 9
Saleh began working to support his family: collecting firewood from the mountains, cleaning animal barns, selling za'atar, carrying water over long distances, selling lupine beans, and roasting corn to sell.
Any work that could earn a few coins to keep the household from collapsing.
Double Orphanhood
In 1991, he lost his father at age nine. Only six years later, his mother passed away, leaving him orphaned of both parents at fifteen.
Her final words: "Men make money, but money does not make men... take care of yourself, my son."
Education
The Unbreakable Spirit
Yet he did not break. He continued his education despite the hardship, held firmly to knowledge, and believed that education was the only true weapon a poor person possesses.
He excelled academically, worked at the same time, supported his siblings, and carried the weight of the household before ever knowing stability.
2000
Scholarship & Solitude
He received a scholarship to Morocco, where he studied Law and International Relations. The years of exile were difficult: hunger, loneliness, and success without celebration.
He would pass his exams and watch his classmates celebrate with their families, while he stood silently, carrying his success alone — and his pain alone.
The American Chapter
Building anew from absolute zero
Migration to USA (2007)
Started from absolute zero, working at a gas station, opening a restaurant, losing everything to Hurricane Michael in 2018, and rebuilding once more.
Return & Struggle
After graduating, he returned to Palestine to find his country burdened with crises. He lived in an abandoned house, trained in a law office without pay, and walked for hours because he could not afford transportation.
He married and was blessed with his first son, Talal, before beginning the American journey.
The Birth of a Mission
With every fall, he heard the old sound of rain... the sound of the pot... the sound of orphanhood.
From here, Unity for Humanity Foundation was born. It was not born as a project, but as a mission. A mission of a man who chose to become the support he once lacked, and to build a sound human system... so that no human being would ever leak through its cracks.
The Founder's Vision
Transforming personal pain into universal hope
From this understanding emerged the vision of Dar Al-Akram — Al-Madina Al-Fadila: Not merely filling needs, but rebuilding the complete structure of life.
Unity for Humanity Foundation
Registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization