MEET THE AANGEN TEAM
Executive Director
Gurbeen Bhasin
(she/her)
Aangen Founder
(647) 323-2787 ext. 702
Gurbeen Bhasin is the founder and executive director of Aangen. A trained social worker, Gurbeen established Aangen in 2000, following in the footsteps of her ancestors who always welcomed and supported community members facing challenges. Her primary purpose with Aangen is to foster personal empowerment and nurture communities by responding to community needs. Her professional journey has included serving as project manager of a global human rights initiative; a senior analyst at the Canadian Mental Health Association; and as an entrepreneur and creator in Toronto’s independent arts sector. Gurbeen holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in international relations from the University of Windsor, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from York University.
She is best known for her mile-wide smile, her funky shoes and her mom’s timeless life wisdom.
Managers
Arran
Altimas
(he/him)
All Dried Up Kitchen Manager
(647) 323-2787 ext. 3
Arran has taken over as Aangen’s new ADU Manager, a position that requires empathy, food manufacturing knowledge and management—all of which Arran has and more. He joined Aangen after working 15 years in medical manufacturing and development, so helping vulnerable populations has always been a huge passion of his. In that respect, helping to grow ADU to reach more people and combat food insecurity is a perfect fit for him.
Arran is a passionate farmer and grows a big organic garden each year. He’s got lots of hobbies, including: leatherworking, knife-making, fishing, and swimming. But, most of all, Arran loves helping others through his work.
Coordinators
Madushan
"Maddy"
Periyasamy
"
(he/him)
Financial Coordinator
(647) 323-2787 ext. 703
Maddy began working at Aangen in November 2020 as a bookkeeper. His role includes speaking with customers and clients, banking, creating invoices, and anything related to finance and number-crunching. He loves being a part of a company that helps the community, and working in a friendly environment makes him happy. For Maddy, Aangen feels like a family.
Apart from working, he loves to travel, explore new things, late night drives, and reading as much as possible.
Managers
Jehmol Barnes
(he/him)
Cleaning Coordinator
Jehmol's expertise in cleaning spans nearly ten years, from community health centers to college campuses, where he's not only managed but also trained staff on safety protocols like sharps disposal. Fueled by his passion for social activism, he sees cleaning as a means to provide housing security through hygiene.
In his spare time, Jehmol unwinds through song writing, gaming, and cherishing moments with friends, balancing his dedication to service with moments of creativity and camaraderie.
Kajal Upadhyay
(she/her)
HR/CEP Manager
Kajal brings her 6 years of HR expertise to Aangen, pursuing Master’s Degree in Human Resource at present. She is contributing to expand and manage the HR and the CEP (Collaborative Employment Program) department. Her friendly demeanor and creative problem-solving skills make her an asset to the team. As a new immigrant to Canada, she believes in helping people to break the cycle of poverty through supportive employment opportunities and work for the welfare of people. Outside of work, Kajal finds happiness in creating content on social media and loves to try out new cuisines.
Mohaj Salaheldin
(she/her)
Social Worker
Mohaj Salaheldin, is a dedicated humanitarian with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and ongoing pursuit of a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW). With extensive experience of a decade as a social worker and a counsellor, Mohaj believes fervently in the power of love and cooperation to uplift those affected by adversity with unwavering determination, Mohaj serves as an inspiring source of strength for the vulnerable, striving to provide support and empowerment to help them transcend their circumstances. Passionate about driving meaningful change, Mohaj constantly seeks innovative solutions to make a positive impact.
Outside of work, Mohaj finds joy in dancing and cooking, using these activities for self-expression and connecting with others.