circl. at Prototypes for Humanity 2025.

Before it had its name, circl. was a student project called wasl. In 2025, we presented it at Prototypes for Humanity in Dubai, a showcase of solutions to global challenges from universities around the world. wasl. was selected as one of the top 100 global solutions.

community, not the clinic

From the start, the idea was simple: mental health support should not only begin once things have gone wrong. Prevention, peer connection and everyday self-care matter too, and they are often overlooked.

In its post about the project, Prototypes for Humanity highlighted research that found 80% of individuals felt their mental health worsened while waiting for support. It described wasl. as a platform built around community rather than the clinic, and positioned it as preventative and community-facing: not an emergency or diagnostic service. That is still exactly how we think about circl.

dubai future solutions

Dubai Future Solutions: Prototypes for Humanity 2025, Dubai.

The project was also among those Dubai Health presented at Dubai Future Solutions 2025. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) described it as a student-led initiative that aims to support mental health proactively, encourage community connection, and make care easier to reach.

the team behind it

wasl. brought together students in medicine, design and technology: Isra Shakir, Sara Vidha and Krish Bhatia from MBRU; Yashvi Patel and Zoe Concepcion from the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI); and Henok Kefyalew, Abdulkarim Aman and Ibrahim Alhaik from Rochester Institute of Technology.

from wasl. to circl.

The name has changed, and the idea has grown into circl.: a community-centred approach to everyday mental wellbeing, starting with students and young adults in the UAE. Join the community or follow along on Instagram (opens in a new tab).