Meet Our Founder
Masooma Sadat 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
Masooma Sadat is an Afghan-Canadian humanitarian leader, social entrepreneur, and internationally recognized expert in the field of sport for development, dedicated to creating sustainable social impact through sport. With over 19 years of leadership experience, she has dedicated her career to empowering women, youth, refugees, newcomers, and underserved communities through sport, wellness, education, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development. With a bachelor’s degree in physical education and business administration, along with professional coaching and leadership certifications, she combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous national and international awards and partnerships with governments, UN agencies, and global organizations.
Leading a Global Movement
Her journey began in 2009 with the founding of the Al-Zahra Cultural and Sports Association, establishing one of the first women’s sports organizations and complexes in Afghanistan. Under her leadership, the organization became a pioneer in advancing women’s participation in sport, leadership, health and community development. Building on this legacy, she later founded the ACSA Cultural and Sports Association in Canada in 2019, expanding its mission through innovative programs that support refugees, newcomers, women and diverse communities. In 2026, she brought these experiences together under the name Al-Zahra International Sports Association – a globally focused organization that reflects her long-term vision of using sport as a powerful platform for empowerment, innovation, international collaboration and sustainable social change.