Nadwa Qaragholi is the founder and president of Living Light International (LLI), a non-profit dedicated to supporting Iraqi orphans and vulnerable children through medical aid and educational programs. She established LLI as a tribute to her father, channeling her grief to help Iraq’s disadvantaged youth. Through LLI’s initiatives, including medical missions, computer and arts classes, and social projects, Qaragholi has improved the lives of countless children affected by poverty and conflict. LLI has facilitated over 600 life-saving pediatric cardiac surgeries and recently produced a musical film, I am the Hope, featuring children from dumpsite communities, to highlight Iraq’s humanitarian and environmental crises.

Qaragholi’s professional background includes real estate development, interior design, and fine arts. She is Vice President of CCC, a real estate company in Washington, D.C., co-owner of Solemar Interiors, and owner of M.A.C. Company for trade and construction. Additionally, she founded two community projects in Washington, D.C., for recovering drug addicts and halfway house residents, providing resources for personal rebuilding.

Originally from Baghdad, Qaragholi studied English Literature at the University of Baghdad and earned a Post-Graduate Degree in Library Science. After moving to the U.S., she studied Interior Design at Santa Monica College and UCLA. Now based in Washington, D.C., she manages large-scale development projects and continues her philanthropic mission.