Sally Hassona & Impact Academy Egypt

Sally Hassona is a sports educator, coach, and gender equality advocate, and the founder of Impact Academy Egypt, a pioneering initiative that empowers girls through sports, STEM education, and leadership training. Her advocacy has helped shape national policy in Egypt, securing girls’ inclusion in the Olympic Champion Development Program and launching the country’s first national girls’ boxing program with equal participation and a woman coach.

With the support of the Giving Joy grant, Impact Academy will train 10–15 women coaches and mentors in Egypt through a specialized workshop focused on gender-inclusive coaching, leadership development, and integrating STEM into sports education. This initiative aims to empower women with advanced training techniques and educational tools, creating sustainable pathways for girls to thrive as athletes, scientists, and community leaders.

As a woman in sports leadership, this grant reinforces Sally’s commitment to helping other women lead confidently and challenge deeply rooted gender norms in both sport and education. By expanding their reach and improving the quality of programming, they will equip female mentors to better support girls in athletic and academic pursuits, particularly in science and technology. In a country like Egypt, where women coaches are still rare, especially in marginalized communities, this grant will foster safe and inclusive environments, open career pathways in male-dominated fields, and spark long-term change in how girls are seen and supported in public, physical, and leadership spaces.