What does it mean to be a "winner" in a situation where you have lost everything? For Mohammad Helles, it means turning systemic frustration into a roadmap for community survival.

In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Mohammad Helles, a software engineer in Gaza who transitioned from construction labor to global tech with nothing but a basic laptop and an iron will. Mohammad exposes the harsh reality of the digital economy in Gaza—a place where payment gateways like PayPal are blocked, and remote workers are forced to pay exorbitant fees just to access their own salaries.

Together, they discuss Mohammad’s latest venture, Gaza Bridge, a platform designed to provide a dignified, direct link between global support and the families in Gaz ...