Board directors
Our Founders
Nehal Azab - Mother
Nehal Azab was born and raised in Egypt and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Cairo University. She immigrated to Canada in the late 1980s and has lived in British Columbia for more than 35 years. A dedicated mother of three, Nehal built her career supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities while raising her family and remaining active in her community.
She co-founded Salsabeel Charity with her son to provide direct aid to vulnerable people in Egypt and has volunteered for several years at the Abbotsford Food Bank. A passionate runner, she completed her first (and last) marathon in 2025 to raise funds for Salsabeel. In retirement, she continues to combine her love of travel, community service, and giving back to others.
Eiad El Fateh - Son
Eiad El Fateh was born in Egypt and raised in Canada. He co-founded Salsabeel Charity with his mother to provide direct aid and educational support to vulnerable families and students in Egypt. In addition to his charitable work, he volunteers with organizations that mentor recent graduates and early-career professionals pursuing public service and policy careers.
Eiad holds a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s degree in Economics from Queen’s University. He currently serves as Director of Indigenous and External Engagement at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, where he leads work on Indigenous housing initiatives. An avid traveller and runner, he has visited more than 30 countries and has completed 5 marathons.
Board Members
Kyoka Yamakawa
Kyoka was born in Okinawa, Japan and raised in Canada. She coordinates the Starfish Pack program at Archway Food Bank; a food pack program that bridges the weekend hunger gap for students in her community. She met Salsabeel co-founder Nehal in 2023, when she on-boarded her to the food bank’s volunteer team, and was immediately on board with Salsabeel Charity’s direct aid model. Kyoka brings a food security lens to the Salsabeel team, and led the social media campaign for the Marathon for Meals fundraiser.
Kyoka holds a bachelor’s degree in French language and Criminal Justice from the University of the Fraser Valley. She is an aspiring law student, with plans to pursue a career in program and policy development for non-profits; motivated by a passion for amplifying underrepresented and Indigenous voices. Outside of her work and volunteer commitments, Kyoka is a traditional Ryukyu dancer, teaching and performing across Canada and abroad.
Rasha Rashed
Rasha was born in Montreal, Quebec, while her father was completing his Ph.D. in Engineering. At the age of five, she moved with her family to Egypt, where she was raised and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Alexandria University.
In 2009, Rasha returned to Canada with her husband and settled in Toronto, where she completed her Early Childhood Education Diploma and welcomed her first and only son. In 2013, she relocated to British Columbia to support her husband as he pursued his two-year Dentistry qualification program at the University of British Columbia.
Rasha has a strong passion for working with children and supporting families, which has been the driving force behind her career in early childhood education and community services. She currently serves as the Childcare Supervisor for the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) program at Archway Community Services in Abbotsford, British Columbia. In this role, she is dedicated to fostering a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive environment for children and families from diverse backgrounds.
Adel Elseri
Adel Elseri is a Boilermaker welder with Boilermakers Local 146 and was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He is married and has two children. He is publicly known for appearing on Big Brother Canada (Season 2, 2014), and has also appeared on Dragon’s Den. More recently, he appeared on Family Feud Canada as team captain for the Elseri–El Fateh family. A dedicated Edmonton sports fan, Adel is an avid Edmonton Oilers supporter.
Adel has been active in charitable work for several years. Within Salsabeel Charity, he supports the practical side of outreach, including helping with the website and contributing ideas to strengthen how we connect with supporters.