United Arab Emirates
Chapter Lead: Minjae Kim
Minjae Kim is a rising sophomore at Dubai American Academy in the United Arab Emirates. Having witnessed the stark contrast between wealth and poverty in Dubai, MJ was deeply moved by the lack of access to basic medical care, food, and safe housing among underserved communities. MJ is passionate about creating a more cohesive and supportive society by promoting healthcare equity and emotional well-being. At school, he serves as a student ambassador, striving to help peers feel welcomed and supported. Through CURA, MJ hopes to build a community where everyone can access the medical services and resources they need to thrive. In his free time, he enjoys working out while listening to music and spending quality time with family and friends.
Guli Zhu
Guli Zhu is a G11 student at Dubai American Academy in the UAE. He had done the Rescue Diver and Emergency First Response – Primary & Secondary Care course, thus he knew the basics of healthcare knowledge, and had the ability to apply those skills to the emergency case. Also, he hopes can do more things for the community and to support CURA’s mission.
Abdellah Mohamed Benharkat
Abdellah Mohamed Benharkat is a 14 year old student in Dubai enrolled in the GEMS Dubai American Academy. With aspirations of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon, he is passionate about medicine, education, engineering and community service. Abdellah joined Project CURA to contribute to its mission of making medical education and volunteering opportunities more accessible to students worldwide. Through Project CURA, Abdellah hopes to expand his knowledge, collaborate with like-minded peers, and inspire others to explore the medical field while giving back to their communities.
Oscar Pelag
Oscar Pelag is a rising junior at GEMS Dubai American Academy in the UAE. He has been deeply interested in science since he was a kid, but his passion for medicine was set in stone after getting the opportunity to shadow a medical professional. Through that experience, he realized that healthcare can be unjust, including unfortunate diagnoses, insurance struggles, and grueling treatments. However, the most important thing that he learned was that a doctor’s role is not to be a diagnostic, but a professional that shows immense empathy, communicates prognoses objectively, and supports patients throughout their treatment, giving them the needed motivation to persevere. At Project CURA, he hopes to expand his scientific knowledge and collaborate with his peers in making a positive impact on healthcare accessibility, as everyone deserves the right to affordable medical care.
Project CURA 