Ramy
‍Al Shurafa

(14/08/1992- 17/03/2025)

Ramy, you are with us always. We will keep growing the seeds you have planted.

Join Us in Supporting Ramy’s Loved Ones

Honoring Ramy:
A Visionary, A Friend, A Force for Good

On Monday, 17 March 2025, our dear friend and co-founder, Ramy Shurafa, suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away. Words will never fully express the loss we feel. Yet, at a time when those in positions of power make us question humanity, it is more important than ever that people know Ramy—the wonderful person he was and the vision he had for this world.

Ramy first connected with Joe and Simon through a laptop screen, by chance, through a programme where graduates from Founders and Coders and Gaza Sky Geeks could learn together remotely, building tech-for-good products. Within months (and having not met in person), they decided to set up a digital agency—Yalla Cooperative. Perhaps they bonded over their shared naïve optimism! Technology brought them together, and they wanted to help technology do the same for others.

It’s unreal to think that, all these years on, Yalla is still here. There are so many shared memories—our first time meeting in person, eating mulukhiyah on Gaza City’s beachfront, celebrating the birth of Ramy's first child. And over these years, our community has grown across Palestine and Europe, bringing together brilliant people, all committed to building digital tools to help others.

The values at the heart of Yalla were shaped by Ramy.

His unwavering trust in people, his unending support, his determination to overcome anything—blackouts, airstrikes, and any other technical blockers! Even in the face of the latest genocide, Ramy never stopped—always working to support colleagues, friends, and families in Gaza.

Despite facing every obstacle imaginable, Ramy did more to help people in his short time than most do in their entire lives.

We owe so much to him. We are better people because of him, as we know so many others are as well. We don’t know what to do without him, but we know that we need to live by his values.

There simply needs to be more people like Ramy in the world.

A Journey of Learning, Love, and Impact

Ramy’s path to technology was anything but conventional. He started in science, moved through mechanical and civil engineering, and eventually found his passion in coding. This broad background shaped the way he approached problem-solving, bringing curiosity, analytical thinking, and adaptability to Yalla. He had a deep love for self-learning, always eager to explore new ideas—even in the busiest times, he found ways to keep learning and growing. His perspective wasn’t just technical—it was about finding practical solutions and making a real impact.
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Beyond work, Ramy was a runner, a hiker, and a gardener, with a particular love for bamboo trees, potted greens, and lotus flowers. He was also learning to fish—never quite mastering it, but always enjoying the challenge. As he once said: "I never wanted a job just to make a living. I always wanted to do something more meaningful—something that ignites my passion when I start each day and motivates me to wake up."

‍In 2022, Ramy got engaged to Malak, and in 2023, they married. For their honeymoon, they travelled to Egypt and Turkey, marking Ramy's first time leaving Gaza as an adult. It was an experience he had long hoped for—hiking in open landscapes, fishing in different places, and spending time in nature. He made the most of every moment.

Time with Ramy and his family was always filled with warmth. We cooked feasts together, played board games, and had endless rounds of bowling and other games. We never missed a chance to tease him—no matter how hard he tried, Malak always seemed to win. In September 2023, Ramy returned to Turkey as we prepared for a team retreat in Istanbul. He never left again. Soon after, the genocide in Palestine began, and Ramy never got the chance to return home.

On 29 December 2023, Ramy’s son, Mustafa, was born. Becoming a father was a moment of pure joy for him. Recently, Mustafa took his first steps and has started saying his first words—“Mum” and “Dad.”

Ramy was more than a friend—he was family to so many. Whether in Gaza, Istanbul, or across Europe, his kindness and support made him a constant presence in people’s lives. He built communities, not just through his work, but through the way he lived.

All Ramy wanted was to be back in Gaza, with his family and friends. Now, his wife and child remain unable to return home to the support of their loved ones. His family cannot even bury him, as they fight to survive the latest Israeli onslaught. His friends, scattered across the world by displacement, cannot physically come together to mourn him. As humans, we may not control a sudden heart attack, but we do control the systems that tear families apart and deny them dignity in their hardest moments.

What made Ramy so special was his hope. He believed we could change things. He envisioned a world where barriers were broken, where people came together to build something better. That is why we are proud to have known him, and why we will continue his work.
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It is a vision we must all carry forward.

Donate to honour Ramy’s legacy and building a better future for Mustafa and Malak.

Ramy was the heart of our community. He built opportunities for others, lifted people up, and worked tirelessly to create a better future.

Now, we want to do the same by supporting the people he loved most. We are raising funds to support his wife, Malak, and his young son, Mustafa, as they navigate this devastating loss. If Ramy’s life and work touched you in any way, please consider contributing.
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Ramy’s impact will never be forgotten.

Give in Ramy’s name

Memories, Tributes and fun facts

We are collecting messages, memories, and reflections from friends, colleagues, and loved ones to share with Ramy’s family. Whether it’s a story, a message of support, or simply a few words about what Ramy meant to you, your contributions will help honour his legacy.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts.

Drop your message

I had the privilege of knowing Ramy for over eight months. He led most of the projects I worked on during that time. I won’t try to summarise how intelligent or professional he was—those things speak for themselves. What stood out to me most was his calm, kind nature and how he always carried a quiet smile. Ramy supported me deeply and guided me throughout our time together. He was truly a beautiful person to know. Even now, long after his passing, I find myself encountering small moments at work that bring him back to mind—“Ah, Ramy showed me how to do this,” or “We were just laughing about this bug a few weeks ago, and somehow he figured out a fix.” I miss him and I feel sad that we never had the chance to meet in person. We sometimes shared long nights, pushing through deadlines side by side. His presence is still felt in so many of the things I do.

Abdel-Halim Aljamal

Colleague

I only knew Ramy for about four months, but the amount of support, courage, and intelligence I saw in him was beautiful. I always see people through their actions—one time, during a meeting, he paused everything so we could pray and then continue. If that shows anything, it shows the goodness at his core. I will truly miss such a beautiful soul. May Allah have mercy on him, grant you patience, and make him among the people of Jannah.

GamalEldin Mohamed

Colleague

My heart goes out to Ramy's family and those closest to him, I am so sad at his loss, and I am angry and ashamed at the injustice that kept him from his home in Gaza. But I want to share a nice memory of Ramy. I did not have the opportunity to know Ramy well or for long, but in the short time I worked with him at Yalla since November 2024, I could tell that he was a very smart and very kind man. I found him to be a quiet person, so it took me a while to notice that Ramy also had a great and cheeky sense of humour. A few weeks ago, I found him sitting at his virtual desk (which is next to mine) on a digital go-kart. When I visited his desk, I asked Ramy about the kart. He said I could take it if I liked, so I rode around the office on it and then I took it back to my desk. I figured it was my kart now and I was super pleased about this. After a few days, Ramy and I had another work meeting at my online desk. We spoke for a while about the project we were working on, and I guess we had gotten to the end of the meeting. All of a sudden, Ramy said ""I'm taking the Kart now"" and he stole the kart back and rode away to end our meeting. This left me laughing out loud and I have been thinking about it a lot, as it's the last time I ever spoke to Ramy. I hope he is enjoying his digital go-kart in heaven. With love and sadness xx

Chloe Cheeseman

Colleague and Online Desk Neighbour

Though I never had the chance to meet Ramy in person, I was able to experience his kind and patient energy through the many calls we had together. No matter the issue we were facing Ramy was up for the challenge and he always ended the call with a smile. I am glad I got to work with him and I am so sorry for your loss.

Ozi

Colleague

I didn't personally know Ramy and had only worked with him on a couple of video calls but i could tell he was a very talented, patient and kind man. It was a complete shock that a person of his quality had passed away so suddenly. My deepest condolences.

Anonymous

Other

Thinking of Ramy’s loved ones, especially his Wife and Son. While my time with Ramy was short while working together with Ramy and Yalla team on our new website, I always came away from time with him knowing way more than I did before! His calmness and knowledge in those busy conversations was always reassuring and I feel honoured to have known and worked with such a kind and talented soul. I’ve loved hearing more about him and am only sorry that I couldn’t experience this sooner nor have more conversations with him about his passions, his experiences, his dreams for the future, and his family. This is such a lovely idea to capture the essence of Ramy in this way. I hope it brings all who know and love him great comfort and strength.

Liz Rawlins, Elrha

Client

When I met Ramy for the first time in 2018, I immediately liked him. At first, he seemed rather introverted and shy, but we quickly warmed up. Ramy was naturally positive and funny, always joking around. His way of seeing things was generally light-hearted. He was incredibly clever, with excellent analytical skills—no task was ever too difficult for him. Ramy’s determination to make any project a success was key to Yalla’s existence and growth. He wanted Yalla to thrive and grow into the role of a leader. Whenever I had an issue, whether work related or personal, Ramy would listen and reassure me that everything would be alright. His calm nature and positive outlook made me feel safe, and I was truly grateful to have such a great colleague and friend. I believe it was Ramy’s humble and kind nature that made him so successful in life: not only as a colleague and leader, but also as a friend, son, husband, and father. When I came to Gaza for the first time, I was excited to finally meet Ramy in person. Since we were spending every workday together virtually, it was a really special moment to finally meet face to face. It was amazing to meet Ramy and the Gaza team—working at Yalla was always emotional in some way, as we shared many happy, challenging, and even sad moments. During my stay in Gaza, Ramy organised everything, and I saw how important it was to him that we felt welcome. As Yalla began to grow, more people joined us, and the projects became larger. I remember Ramy once told me he didn’t feel ready to take on a leadership role (aka CTO), but that he hoped to grow into that person one day. The truth is, even when he said that, Ramy was already managing Yalla’s technical side and leading the entire office staff in Gaza. Whenever someone had a question or faced a challenge, Ramy was always there, supporting us and helping us cross the finish line. I always admired Ramy for the way he led and supported projects. He had a way of making the people around him feel comfortable and safe. It might sound strange, but spending time with Ramy gave me a genuine sense that everything would be okay—that we couldn’t fail, because our team was strong. Thanks to Ramy’s influence, Yalla became more than an agency: it grew into a community that means so much to so many people, offering essential support—both financially and emotionally. I'm happy for Ramy that he found a way to make all of this possible. I’m happy he was able to apply his skills and values to become a true leader—even if he didn’t fully acknowledge it himself. If Ramy knew how many lives he impacted in a positive way, I think he’d be shocked. Ramy, I want to say thank you for everything. You always wanted the best for me, and I appreciate that. I’m thankful for all the moments we shared. Starting Yalla together with you and Joe was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I still can’t believe you’re gone. It’s so unfair that you had to leave us so soon. My heart goes out to your son, your wife, your family, and your friends. Your loss is devastating. Dear Ramy, I will never forget your calm, positive, funny, and generous spirit—one that truly made this world a better place.

Simon

Colleague, Friend

I worked with Ramy when Shannon Trust started working with Yalla to build a digital tool for our learners. Ramy was endlessly patient with me and my Shannon Trust colleagues, who knew little to nothing about digital innovation, providing us with excellent advice, answering our very basic questions with patience, humour and kindness. He was so passionate about the work he was doing and the positive change it was making. I wish his family light and love, and some comfort in knowing that Yalla will continue the good work that Ramy so loved.

Amanda from Shannon Trust

Colleague

I’ve known Ramy for almost seven years, and throughout this time, he has been nothing but wonderful. We celebrated his engagement, his marriage, and the birth of his first child, who just turned one.We lost not just a friend but someone who brought love, cheer, calmness, and unwavering support to our professional and personal lives. I joined Yalla Cooperative because of Ramy, who co-founded Yalla and invited me to be a part of this amazing team. Every time work felt overwhelming, I knew I could reach out to Ramy—he was always there to support me, to help me, and to comfort me with his words: “Don’t worry, everything will be solved.

Lina Ayesh

Colleague, Friend...