荔枝视频

Oct. 29, 2025

Wild FC soccer star, Farkhunda Muhtaj, to talk social advocacy at UFlourish event

We Are Ayenda documentary screening followed by fireside chat to take place Oct. 31
Farkhunda Muhtaj sitting in bleachers
Farkhunda Muhtaj Courtesy of Farkhunda Muhtaj

A special screening of the documentary on Oct. 31, followed by a fireside chat with 荔枝视频 soccer star , is one of many UFlourish events taking place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 14.

We Are Ayenda follows the Afghanistan Youth Women鈥檚 National Football Team after the Taliban took power in 2021 and banned women and girls from playing sports. 

It tells the story of how the team bravely escaped the country, and how Muhtaj transcended borders with technology to co-ordinate the team鈥檚 escape.

Muhtaj is an Afghan-Canadian football luminary and social activist who unites the worlds of sport, education and humanitarianism, and who hopes that people are inspired for change after seeing the film. 

鈥淚f you truly want to create change, you must take initiative and be part of the solution," says Muhtaj.

"Real impact starts when you act.鈥 

Muhtaj currently serves as the captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football team and continues to play professionally as part of the 荔枝视频 Wild FC of the Northern Super League, which kicked off in April 2025. 

The screening and fireside chat are part of the UFlourish series, an initiative by the Office of Institutional Commitments and dedicated to promoting positive mental health and well-being within the U荔枝视频 community.

鈥淔lourishing goes beyond simply feeling happy 鈥 it鈥檚 about achieving a deeper sense of well-being through meaningful connection, effectively navigating life's challenges, and living life with purpose," says Dr. , academic director for Mental Health and Well-Being in U荔枝视频鈥檚 Office of Institutional Commitments.

"Farkhunda is a powerful example of how involvement in sport can enable flourishing.鈥

Muhtaj, who says her personal inspiration for advocacy comes from her upbringing, will be taking questions after the film screening and will share her thoughts on impactful topics of community, leadership and teamwork.

鈥淢y parents were once refugees, and I immigrated to Canada when I was two years old," she says.

"Global social issues affect all of us in one way or another. Having lived experience and understanding the generational effects of displacement drive me to stay actively involved."

Thannhauser encourages the U荔枝视频 community to attend the event 鈥渨here they鈥檒l be inspired by (Muhtaj's) remarkable journey of advocacy and leadership.鈥

To attend the free  and other UFlourish events you can visit the .

UFlourish, which runs from Oct 29-Nov 14, 2025, is hosted by the Office of Institutional Commitments鈥 Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (CMHWS), Student Wellness Services, Staff Wellness.
The Office of Institutional Commitments applies a whole-community approach to build a caring campus community where everyone can thrive.