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In recognition of February 11th’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which this year celebrates “women’s leadership in science as a new era for sustainability,” we’re highlighting the Impact Academy. The Egyptian organization is a Grassroots365 grant recipient of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Beyond Sport and Women Win to support diverse innovators leading new and impactful approaches to sport for sustainable development. Grassroots365 was led by Women Win and its recipients are tackling hyper-local challenges with an emphasis on equitable access to resources.
In the heart of Cairo, a game-changing initiative is reshaping the future for girls and women, challenging societal stereotypes and empowering them with the skills they need to succeed in male-dominated fields. Originally founded in 2017 as a grassroots sports initiative to promote gender inclusion, the Impact Academy has grown into a woman-focused platform that integrates sustainability, leadership and STEM education to better society as a whole. Its unique approach not only promotes gender equality in sport but also ensures that these young women become change-makers in their communities and beyond by empowering Egyptian girls with boxing, football and STEM opportunities.
The Academy engages women and refugees from Egypt and Nile Basin countries such as South Sudan and Ethiopia. Its mission is to close the gender gap in male-centric sports and careers by building the confidence, resilience and strength of its participants. Committed to promoting economic inclusion, reducing gender disparity and advancing educational opportunities, Impact Academy’s upcoming priorities also focus on climate justice and peacebuilding to ensure a safe and equitable future for women athletes.
One participant shared how the program has impacted her life: “I made friends here, I’m learning so many good things about the environment, about water resources, and mostly I’m having fun playing the sport I love. I would have never learned any of this if I hadn’t joined the Impact team with Coach Sally.”
We spoke to Founder, Sally Hassona, about the challenges women and girls face in Egypt and how the Impact Academy provides vital opportunities for development, empowering them to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
Why STEM Education is Crucial for Disadvantaged Girls
For many girls living in Cairo’s cities, education often takes a backseat to societal expectations and economic realities. “I feel disadvantaged girls from urban slums have always suffered from cultural stereotypes of only getting a basic education, sometimes even forced to drop out of school. I recently encountered four girls that came to learn to box and were forced to leave school because their father couldn’t support them financially and believed that women didn’t need to be educated. Hence, STEM not only breaks stereotypes but challenges these outdated mindsets. STEM is known in Egypt to be male-dominated, so for an underprivileged girl to compete with men and boys in this field is unusual and daring,” shared Hassona.
Barriers women and girls face in Cairo are deeply rooted in social and cultural structures. Through its various programs, the Impact Academy seeks to combat three key challenges: societal stereotypes, early marriage grooming and forced education abandonment. According to Girls not Brides, 16% of girls in Egypt marry before the age of 18 and 2% marry before the age of 15. Child marriage is common in Upper Egypt, which is rural and has high levels of poverty and low levels of literacy and is driven by gender equality and the belief that girls are somehow inferior to boys. Data also reveals that harmful gender norms and child marriage force 53% of Egyptian girls to drop out of school.
The nonprofit uses boxing and football to break down gender stereotypes and introduce girls and women to STEM education. It helps girls develop confidence, discipline and problem-solving skills – attributes that are crucial for success in STEM. “These sports naturally integrate physics, biomechanics and data analysis, making STEM concepts more relatable. It also encourages girls to pursue male-dominated fields through mentoring and having female role models in sports. STEM also inspires leadership and career aspirations. Programs like Impact Academy’s ‘Her Fight For H2O’ initiative use sports to drive STEM education and empower girls,” shares Hassona.
The Impact of Women in STEM on Sustainability Efforts
Sustainability is at the heart of the Impact Academy’s mission, particularly through its Grassroots365-award-winning project, ‘Her Fight for H2O’. The innovative project combines boxing and football training with environmental education to address the critical issue of Nile water scarcity and its impact on the environment. Data shows that Egypt is facing a water deficit of around seven billion cubic meters, placing it below the ‘water poverty line’ and putting it at risk of running out of water this year.
The program fosters leadership, resilience, peacebuilding and environmental stewardship, while mentoring participants in STEM education and careers. It also promotes cross-cultural exchange, community engagement and solidarity from an environmental perspective. By raising awareness of Nile water conservation and ecological balance, the program uplifts young women athletes to become ambassadors for sustainability, peace and solidarity in their communities, creating a lasting impact on both their personal development and the environment.
“Encouraging women in STEM strengthens sustainability by fostering diverse solutions to water challenges. In Her Fight for H2O, empowering girls with STEM skills enhances water conservation efforts, innovative problem-solving and leadership in environmental stewardship. Their engagement ensures inclusive, long-term impact in tackling Egypt’s water crisis through science and advocacy,” explained Hassona.
As the Impact Academy continues to grow, its reach and impact are expanding as well. By breaking down the barriers that limit girls and women in Cairo, it’s helping create a generation of empowered leaders who will not only challenge societal norms but also drive progress in fields critical to Egypt’s future, like sustainability and STEM. Through sports, education and mentorship, Impact Academy is ensuring that the next generation of women in Cairo won’t just dream of breaking barriers—they’ll live it.
Stay tuned for the Innovation Hub’s Collective365 and Tech365 and recipient announcement!
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