Meet Our Founder
Masooma Sayed Hashim is the Founder and President of ALZAHRA Sport International Society, an internationally recognized refugee-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing social impact through sport, education, leadership, wellness, and community development.
The Beginning of a Vision
Her journey began in 2004, when she returned to Afghanistan and pursued a degree in Physical Education while launching her professional career as a sport coach for orphaned and vulnerable children. Working with organizations such as EMDH, Sports Sans Frontières (SSF), and Aschiana Organization, she gained extensive experience in designing and managing sport-for-development programs that empowered women, youth, and marginalized communities.
After graduating as the top-ranked student in her faculty, Masooma founded ALZAHRA in 2009, establishing one of Afghanistan’s first women-led sport organizations and creating one of the country’s earliest women’s sport complexes. Under her leadership, ALZAHRA became a pioneering force for women’s empowerment, leadership development, health promotion, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion through sport.
Leading a Global Movement
Following her relocation to Canada, she continued her mission by establishing ACSA Cultural & Sport Association, expanding the organization’s work to support refugees, newcomers, women, youth, and seniors through innovative sport-for-development initiatives. Between 2019 and 2026, her leadership contributed to the successful delivery of more than 40 community programs across British Columbia in collaboration with government agencies, national organizations, and international partners.
In 2026, she led the organization’s global rebranding as ALZAHRA Sport International Society, reflecting its evolution into an internationally focused nonprofit committed to creating sustainable social impact through sport, martial arts, wellness, education, leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Today, Masooma Sayed Hashim continues to represent ALZAHRA on international platforms, advocating for refugee inclusion, women’s empowerment, and community development. Her vision is to build a global ecosystem where sport serves as a catalyst for opportunity, resilience, leadership, and lasting social change.