Meet the
Co-Founders
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Co-Founder
Executive Director
As Executive Director, I guide Khairiyat’s vision and operations by overseeing fundraising, strategic planning, and program development. I manage financial sustainability through grant acquisition and donor partnerships, while coordinating a multidisciplinary team of volunteers to deliver impactful initiatives. My responsibilities include designing culturally responsive health education programs, ensuring organizational accountability, and cultivating collaborations with universities, nonprofits, and community groups. I also represent Khairiyat in public forums and advocacy spaces, amplifying the voices of immigrant and minority women in conversations on health equity.
Find me on LinkedIn!
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Co-Founder
Director of Community Outreach & Programs
As Director of Community Outreach & Programs, I lead Khairiyat’s community engagement by building strong partnerships with organizations, schools, and advocacy groups. I collaborate with our team to shape programs that transform ideas into meaningful initiatives, ensuring they remain culturally responsive and accessible to immigrant and minority women. My work involves coordinating outreach strategies, developing workshops and resources that reflect the voices and lived experiences of the communities we serve. I represent Khairiyat in collaborative spaces, advocating for equity-driven approaches to health education and amplifying the perspectives of women who are often excluded from mainstream healthcare conversations.
Find me on LinkedIn!
Our Team
Eman Khan
Eman Khan is a fifth-year undergraduate student majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. She was inspired to join Khairiyat because of its vital role in building safer and more supportive communities. Eman is particularly passionate about addressing the stigma surrounding sexual violence and abuse—issues that are often silenced despite their widespread impact. She believes that protecting children begins with equipping them with the knowledge and support they need to navigate difficult topics and seek help when necessary. Through education and open dialogue, she aims to break down harmful stigmas, empower survivors to come forward, and help prevent further harm. By engaging directly with youth through school-based workshops, Eman hopes to contribute to a culture of awareness, support, and prevention. She believes that breaking the silence around sexual violence is a necessary step toward fostering a safer and more compassionate society.
Sarah Sait
Sarah Sait is a fourth-year Honours student in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary, and a member of the Scholars Academy. She is excited to join Khairiyat and contribute to the organization’s mission of promoting and destigmatizing important issues in women’s health. A passionate advocate for underrepresented communities, Sarah believes in the importance of tailoring outreach efforts to meaningfully engage diverse populations. As a member of the South Asian community, she is committed to empowering both youth and adults to engage in open conversations around abuse and prevention. She is particularly interested in gynecology and aims to raise awareness about topics such as menstrual hygiene, menopause, cervical health, and breast cancer—issues that are often overlooked or stigmatized. Through her work with Khairiyat, Sarah hopes to foster education, dialogue, and health equity across communities.
Aamna Ghimire
Aamna is a second-year Software Engineering student with a strong passion for community engagement and advocacy. She is grateful and excited to be part of Khairiyat and its mission to break down the stigma surrounding sexual health and well-being, particularly within South Asian communities. Aamna recognizes that cultural taboos have long silenced these critical conversations, and she is committed to helping foster open dialogue and education. She believes that empowering the next generation with knowledge is essential to dismantling harmful stigmas and promoting health equity. For Aamna, the growth, support, and sense of community that Khairiyat fosters are deeply meaningful, and she looks forward to contributing to its impact in the years ahead.
Aani Chahal
Aani is a first-year student in Exercise and Health Physiology at the University of Calgary. She joined Khairiyat with a deep passion for making education accessible, particularly for young women navigating barriers to health and well-being. Much of her volunteer work focuses on advocacy and empowerment, driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to information and support, regardless of external challenges. Aani is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where South Asian women can learn, connect, and uplift one another without fear of judgment. Outside of her academic and advocacy work, she enjoys practicing Pilates, volunteering in her community, and discovering new food spots around Calgary.
Eugena Lee
Eugena (she/they) is a Ambassador for Khairiyat. She is in her third year of her Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies, with the goal of pursuing graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. Eugena’s research interests include social justice, health equity, EDIA considerations in the pain research space, and how biopsychosocial factors impact the experience of pain—both mental and physical. Through her work with Khairiyat, she aims to contribute to the mobilization of pain knowledge, research and treatment, especially targeting the needs of marginalized communities who have unmet healthcare needs. Subsequently, she hopes that this could inform a more positive, safer and inclusive culture around experiences of pain and inspire a move towards reducing biases and inequities in healthcare.
Davina Elesin
Davina Elesin is a second-year student at the University of Calgary, majoring in International Relations with a minor in Health and Society. She aspires to work in health policy and law, with a focus on ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare regardless of economic or geographic barriers. At the University of Calgary, Davina is a member of the Scholars Academy, where she mentors a first-year student. She also serves as the Associate Director of Academics and Advocacy for the Faculty of Arts Student Association (FASA), working to increase student awareness of mentorship opportunities and scholarships. Beyond campus, she has volunteered as a math tutor with Intutorly since 2022, supporting a teenager in Afghanistan. Davina is also the host of 10 Questions with Davina, a podcast that amplifies stories of resilience and growth, encouraging listeners to approach their own challenges with confidence. She is excited to join Khairiyat and to lead its new initiative, Complete Health Africa. Through this initiative, Davina is committed to improving health education, particularly around patient advocacy and gynaecological disorders amongst Africans.
Anushah Jabran
Anushah Jabran is a second-year nursing student at the University of Calgary with a strong interdisciplinary passion for law, politics, and healthcare advocacy. She is actively involved in multiple organizations, advocating for mental health, supporting Calgary’s unhoused population, and creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth. Anushah is excited to join Khairiyat after witnessing how generations of women, including those within her own community, have been silenced by the stigmatization of women’s health as taboo, and she strongly aligns with Khairiyat’s mission to de-stigmatize women’s health in marginalized communities by fostering safe spaces for open dialogue. Anushah believes education and youth empowerment are powerful tools for creating sustainable change. She aspires to pursue a career in medical law to advocate for ethical healthcare practices and protect vulnerable populations. Outside of academia, she enjoys competitive debate, reading, basketball, and painting.
Maryam Najam
My name is Maryam and I am a first year MSc student in Health and Exercise Psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology. My research is focused on understanding how women navigate physical activity during menopause. Passionate about community health and education, I am excited to be part of Khairiyat’s mission to raise awareness around issues that are widespread yet too often left unspoken—particularly within marginalized communities. I believe that open, accessible education is a powerful tool in addressing stigma and empowering individuals to take charge of their health and well-being. Through my role with Khairiyat, I look forward to helping foster inclusive dialogue, promote prevention, and contribute to long-lasting change.
Sanjene Sidhu
Sanjene holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Sociology and a Master of Management from the University of Calgary. She pursued an interdisciplinary education to better understand health through both scientific and social perspectives, and hopes to pursue a career in medicine. As a Punjabi who grew up in Hong Kong, she brings a global perspective to her passion for health equity within immigrant communities. Her academic, research, and volunteer work center on children and brain health, reflecting her belief that every child deserves equitable opportunities to thrive. Fluent in five languages, Sanjene is committed to fostering inclusive, stigma-free conversations around women’s health through Khairiyat.
Manahil Hussain
Manahil Hussain is in her final year of a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Calgary. She is passionate about pursuing a career in health that focuses on supporting and uplifting people across all communities. Through her volunteer experiences with children, individuals with disabilities, adults in rehabilitation programs, youth-focused mental health initiatives like Jack.org, and community outreach and leadership roles, Manahil has developed strong skills in empathy, communication, and inclusive care. She is excited to join Khairiyat to contribute to health education, promote well-being, and help create supportive spaces where everyone can access resources and guidance for a healthier life.
Hajir AL-Ogaidi
Hajir is a student at the University of Calgary pursuing a degree in Natural Sciences, with a concentration in Biological Sciences and Chemistry. She is deeply passionate about health equity, with a particular focus on improving access and outcomes for refugees, immigrants, and minority communities—especially women and children.
Through both her academic and professional experiences, Hajir has developed a strong foundation in ethics, equity, and inclusive approaches to healthcare. She is committed to addressing systemic barriers and advocating for more accessible, culturally responsive health systems.
In addition to her work in health equity, Hajir is a cricket athlete who is passionate about advancing equity for women and girls in sport. Through her involvement in athletics, she actively challenges the barriers that limit participation and representation, and advocates for more inclusive and supportive environments in sport.
Hajir aims to build a career that bridges science, advocacy, and community impact, working toward a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
Munaza Kanwal
Munaza is a third-year student majoring in Accounting. She is excited to be part of Khairiyat and contribute to its mission of destigmatizing and increasing access to sexual health education and resources. As a South Asian woman, Munaza finds this work especially meaningful, having grown up witnessing how cultural taboos and misconceptions often silence conversations around women’s health in her community. She recognizes that this silence can leave many women without the knowledge or support needed to advocate for their well-being. Through her involvement with Khairiyat, Munaza looks forward to helping break down these barriers and creating space for informed, empowering dialogue.
Omnia Elhakim
Omnia Elhakim is a second year Master of Public Health (MPH) student at the University of Alberta. In addition to her MPH degree, she is pursuing two Graduate Embedded Certificates: one in Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics and another in Global Health Equity. She also holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, a Minor in Human Ecology, and a Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Alberta. For her Certificate in Sustainability integrative capstone project, Omnia completed a literature review titled “Sustainability in Healthcare Systems with focus in Alberta, Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. This literature review highlights deficiencies revealed by the pandemic and emphasizes the significance of sustainability strategies for upholding healthcare systems. Omnia currently serves as the Vice President for the School of Public Health Students’ Association. Her contributions to the Brain Awareness Movement and The FentaNIL Project demonstrate her passion for health education and harm reduction. Additionally, her involvement with Connecting Seniors with Care showcases her compassion and dedication to combating social isolation among seniors, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a TEDx Speaker where she presented “The Spark of Surprise” TEDx talk at the TEDxUAlberta Conference 2023. She has been a panelist for Khairiyat’s Kickoff Event. In 2025, she received the Top 30 Under 30 Award by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC). Omnia is deeply committed to making meaningful contributions to public health practice. Coming from a diverse ethnic background and fluent in multiple languages, she brings a unique global perspective and invaluable skills to the public health field. Her passion lies in improving healthcare access, reducing health disparities, and strengthening community networks, with a focus on disease prevention strategies that empower individuals to lead healthier lives.