Community Researchers

Community researchers / facilitators played a significant role in the project. Ten researchers from participating ethno-cultural communities were hired and trained as community researchers / facilitators. These individuals were involved in all aspects of the research and they were ambassadors and agents of change within their respective communities. Most of the individuals remained actively involved in the project after the research phase was completed. The following individuals were CURA Community researchers / facilitators.

Jatinder Saggu grew up in a small town of Indian Punjab, but has studied in various universities and attained Master Degree in Psychology. He worked in a number of cities in India and Canada. He is also employed at Punjabi Community Health Centre as a Program Coordinator with responsibilities including supportive counselling, project management, translation, group facilitation and liaison with other agencies. He is certified to asses high risk clients in domestic violence situations by the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA). Jatinder has a wonderful wife and two children attending high schools in Region of Peel.

Irene was born in Argentina When she was twenty years old, she moved to Uruguay where she raised her daughters. She attended nursing school and worked as a nurse practitioner in the operating room for more than ten years. She decided to go to university to become a clinical psychologist and graduated in 1988. In 1995, Irene came to Canada and has been working as a social worker with families and children since 1995. She enjoys biking and canoeing.

Angela Gao was born and grew up in a town in northern China. She got her Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Southern China. She came to Canada three years ago. Before she came here, she was a professional computer software research and development engineer. After she came here, she was a professional mother. She has three healthy and lovely kids - two angel-like girls and a handsome boy. In her leisure time she likes to watch movies of her idol Stephan Chow. She has a complete collection of Chow.

Harjit was born and brought up in the province of Punjab in India. He migrated to Canada at the age of 33 with his wife and three-year old daughter. He is a science graduate from Punjab University and served in the Indian Army as a short service commissioned officer before coming to Canada. He worked as a door to door sales man, hotel office manager, accountant and retired from self employment in year 2000. He has general interests in religion, philosophy, psychology and social sciences. He has lived in Waterloo and Wellington counties and has been involved in social and religious activities. He has two children and two grandchildren.

Ana Luz was born in Guatemala and had to leave her country when she was studying dentistry. She lived for several years in Mexico where she got her B.A. diploma in education. She emigrated to Canada in 1994 with her family. She has worked for K-W Counselling in the Multiculturalism: Helping It Work project as the outreach counsellor and for K-W Multicultural Centre as a settlement worker. Ana Luz has two children: one attending university and one in elementary school. She likes reading, learning about cultures around the world, and traveling.

Halima was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Canada in 1989. Prior to coming to Canada, she worked with various International and local agencies; UNDP, ICAO, and the UNHCR where she gained extensive experience in International Refugee Social Service Programs, governing laws and human rights issues. With a deep passion on effecting social changes she continues to work here as a community support worker, particularly in the area of violence against women and children. Halima’s background is in education (B.Sc.) and she speaks Somali, Amharic and Italian. She lives in Waterloo with her husband and five children, two of whom are attending university.

At the age of six Karolina emigrated from Poland and spent a part of her childhood in Germany. In 1992, when she was ten years old she and her family moved to Canada. Here she completed a 4-year B.A. in English Literature and Psychology at the University of Waterloo and continues to study in a post-degree Human Resources Management program. Karolina is interested in Lemko history, and how ethnic minorities in general classify and identify themselves within mainstream culture. She also enjoys literature, photography and various kinds of music, especially poetic ballads by Edward Stachura and Bułat Okudżawa.

Helen came from China and has been in Waterloo for two years . She was a University teacher in China. Now she is teaching Mandarin at Conestoga College and has two children (a four-year old boy and a 14-month old girl). She likes swimming and dancing.