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

A special screening of the documentary We Are Ayenda on Oct. 31, followed by a fireside chat with Calgary soccer star Farkhunda Muhtaj, is one of many UFlourish events taking place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 14.

We Are Ayenda follows the Afghanistan Youth Women’s 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’s 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. 

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

"Real impact starts when you act.” 

Muhtaj currently serves as the captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football team and continues to play professionally as part of the Calgary 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 UCalgary community.

“Flourishing goes beyond simply feeling happy — it’s about achieving a deeper sense of well-being through meaningful connection, effectively navigating life's challenges, and living life with purpose," says Dr. Jennifer Thannhauser, academic director for Mental Health and Well-Being in UCalgary’s Office of Institutional Commitments.

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

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.

“My 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 UCalgary community to attend the event “where they’ll be inspired by (Muhtaj's) remarkable journey of advocacy and leadership.”

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