The Karishma Ali Foundation (KAF) is thrilled to announce a series of recent activities and partnerships that advance our mission of promoting gender equality and social change through innovative and sustainable sports initiatives in Pakistan. These milestones include the launch of the transformative "She Plays, She Wins" program, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with teams from Hazara, Hunza, and Gilgit, and the introduction of the Sports for Development Ambassadors Program. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors—HBL, Interloop, Malala Yousafzai, and Asser Malik—whose generous support has made these initiatives possible.
A significant milestone in our journey - In 2024, Interloop Limited and Karishma Ali Foundation (KAF) officially joined forces with the signing of an MOU. The ceremony, held at Interloop Limited’s Head Office in Faisalabad, marked the start of a strategic two-year partnership focused on driving impactful initiatives to empower girls and women through sports.
This collaboration embodies our shared commitment to creating opportunities where they are needed most, helping girls and women unlock their potential, and fostering a culture of resilience and leadership.
‘She Plays She Wins’ is a flagship initiative dedicated to empowering young women and girls through the transformative power of sports. The program provides structured training in football, volleyball, and table tennis, while also integrating leadership development and mental health support through art therapy. Designed to serve underserved communities, She Plays She Wins is currently being implemented in Chitral, Hunza, Gilgit, and Quetta with the support of both national and international partners. Through this comprehensive approach, the program aims to engage and impact over 1,000+ young girls, fostering gender inclusivity, resilience, and community leadership.
In a landmark move to broaden our impact, the Karishma Ali Foundation signed an MOU with teams from Quetta, Hunza, and Gilgit. This collaboration is designed to promote sports in these regions by providing young athletes with opportunities to hone their skills and compete at elevated levels. These agreements set a collaborative framework for ongoing efforts in youth training camps, local tournaments, and mentorship support.
Beyond expanding opportunities for competition, the collaboration emphasizes:
Creating safe environments for girls to train and express themselves freely.
Building the capacity of smaller, local sports teams.
Training coaches in inclusive, nurturing, and feminist approaches.
Funding and supporting community-based sports initiatives.
During the signing ceremony, founder Karishma Ali shared the Foundation’s journey—from its humble beginnings to becoming a national voice for women in sports. UEFA-qualified coach Walid Javaid Khan, who has also served as Pakistan Women's National Team Assistant Coach, addressed technical football development, offering guidance to the region's academy founders.
The Sports for Development Ambassadors Program is an exciting new initiative that trains individuals to become champions for sports as a vehicle for social development. These ambassadors will advocate for the benefits of sports—such as improved health, social cohesion, and economic opportunities—within their communities. The program provides comprehensive training in leadership, communication, and community organizing, empowering participants to drive meaningful change. By creating a network of dedicated ambassadors, we are laying the groundwork for sustainable progress through sports.
We are immensely thankful to our sponsors—HBL Foundation, Interloop Limited, Malala, and Asser—for their unwavering commitment to gender equality and social change. Their contributions have been instrumental in bringing these initiatives to fruition, and we look forward to continued collaboration to shape a brighter future for girls and women across Pakistan.
The Karishma Ali Foundation remains dedicated to harnessing sports as a catalyst for social transformation. Through our growing network of programs and partnerships, we are building a future where girls and women are leaders, safe from violence, economically independent, mentally resilient, and catalysts of community transformation.
We invite donors, partners, and advocates to join us on this journey—because when she plays, she wins—and so does the world.
For more information, please visit the Karishma Ali Foundation website or drop an email at hello@karishmaalifoundation.org