Island Haven
Gaza · Palestine

About us

Our story

Born in theheart ofGaza.

Island Haven wasn't born in a comfortable office or ideal conditions — but amid a war that left no stone, and no dream, untouched. We refused to stand by.

2024
Founded
61
Members
100%
Free

Two years of relentless destruction stripped Gaza's youth of what anyone needs to work and build a future: no reliable internet, no steady power, no quiet place to think and create. The war didn't just destroy infrastructure — it nearly destroyed the hope that Gazan talent could have a place in this world.

From that reality, Island Haven was born — an ecosystem that resists circumstance with work, answers destruction with building, and tells every young person in Gaza: your talent wasn't destroyed, and your path isn't closed.

We began with a shared workspace for graduates, freelancers and students, and grew into a full ecosystem: training and upskilling, cloud credits, international payment solutions, and real connections to opportunities worldwide — putting AI to work in our members' service.

We're not just a place to work — we're a bridge that prepares Gaza's people to compete, for real, with the world.

Our 3-year goal

1,000
Gazan talents
3
years
2024
founded
100%
free

We close the gap the war left by qualifying a thousand Gazan talents within three years, and reconnecting them to the global digital economy — until they reach real competition and excellence.

Inside the Island Haven workspace in Gaza

A quiet place where hope gets to work.

What westand for.

  • Vision

    To be the first anchor point of Gaza's digital economy.

    The place every young person's path toward global competition and excellence begins — known not for pity, but for competence.

  • Mission

    To return to the people of Gaza what war stole.

    A place to work, a skill to carry them, and a world to reach — until Gaza is named in the global market for its competence and excellence.

0+
Gazan talents in our goal
2024
Founded
0%
Free, always
0
Years to close the gap
Born amid the war, we refused to stand by — we resist circumstance with building, opening a door each time another is closed.
Founding principle · Island Haven

A real bridge betweenGaza's talent and the world.

Island Haven was born from a firm conviction: that talent is not bound by geography — and that Gaza's people can compete globally the moment they have the environment, the tools, and the right connection to the world.

  • Infrastructure & Solutions

    A professional work environment built to world standards, modern cloud and tech tools so money is never a barrier, and practical international payment solutions that reach the freelancer's client beyond the borders.

  • Development & Innovation

    Continuous, updated training and upskilling that meets the global market, structured incubation tracks that turn an idea into a viable venture, and AI embedded in our members' work and culture — the first nucleus in Gaza to do so.

  • Networking & Global Impact

    Real connections to work, training and investment beyond the borders — becoming the trusted executor every partner and funder relies on to reach Gaza, with programs, events and hackathons on our ground, and a clear impact-measurement system that proves the difference.

The Island Haven workspace in Gaza

Three axes that compound to make the difference.

Four principlesbehind every decision.

Not slogans we hang on a wall, but lines we won't cross — measured as much by what we refuse to do as by what we do.

  • Free, always

    Everything we offer — space, mentorship, programs — is entirely free. Money should never stand between a Gazan talent and their path.

  • Competence, not pity

    We build so Gaza is named in the global market out of respect for its competence, not sympathy for its wound. We measure impact in numbers, not slogans.

  • Work answers destruction

    Born amid the war, we refused to stand by. We resist circumstance with building, day by day — opening a door each time another is closed.

  • Connected to the world

    We believe talent is not bound by geography. We connect our members to work, training and investment beyond the borders, and act as the trusted executor for every partner.

From an idea amid war,to a building incubator.

  1. 2023

    An idea amid war

    From the heart of destruction the idea is born: a place that answers war with building, returning to Gazan talent the internet, power and quiet space to work.

  2. 2024

    Founded — and the first cohort

    Island Haven is founded as a shared workspace, backed by the NasToNas initiative — entirely free — and the full ecosystem launches with its first cohort.

  3. 2025

    The second cohort builds

    The ecosystem widens: training, cloud credits, international payment solutions and 1:1 mentorship — and a new cohort writes its lines toward Demo Day.

  4. 2026

    The third cohort opens

    A new door opens, and a third cohort joins the path toward a Demo Day before a network of supporters and investors — where Gazan talent meets the world, face to face.

We don't buildalone.

Behind Island Haven stands an ecosystem of supporters and partners who believe Gaza's talent deserves a place in the global digital economy.

We build so Gaza is named in the global market out of respect for its competence, not sympathy for its wound.

People behindevery talent.

Leadership, mentors and advisors from Gaza and around the world — building the incubator, shaping its vision, and standing behind every founder from idea to competition.

Meet the team
The Island Haven team and community in Gaza

The hands that guide the talent.

This place staysopen throughsolidarity.

Island Haven isn't a for-profit venture. The running costs — internet, power and maintenance — are covered by supporters like you, and every contribution keeps the doors open for Gaza's talents.

Every gift keeps the doors open.

Your gift funds the seats, the internet, the power and the mentorship — so the incubator stays free for every Gazan talent. Through the People-to-People initiative.

Donate nownas2nas.org
The Island Haven community in Gaza

We believe talent is not bound by geography.