Pakistani girl who beat formidable odds of ultra-conservative background to become a celebrated international squash player along with global squash legend to co-chair Sansori Bridge Year's Leadership Workshops
NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Embodying the positive ideals of Sansori (www.sansori.org), Maria Toorpakai Wazir took charge of her own future rather than bend to the conservative customs of the region of her birth. Now, she will share lessons learned and opportunities realized as a Bridge Year session co-leader in Toronto.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140227/PH73072-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140227/PH73072-b )
Wazir grew up in one of the most conservative and, for girls with ambition, dangerous places in the world: the tribal region of Pakistan. While the Taliban forbids girls from being educated or playing sports, Maria and her family found a way for her not only to play sports but excel. When she was young, she won national championships disguised as a boy; later, she revealed her true gender identity and continued to succeed at the highest level (http://vimeo.com/61767455#).
As talented and fearless Maria was, she hit the limit of what she could accomplish in Pakistan. She sent emails around the world, desperately seeking help in realizing her dream of becoming an elite, championship-level squash player. To her great surprise, Jonathon Power, the former world squash champion, offered to train her in Canada and provided support for her to embark on a new journey. Since that remarkable meeting, Wazir has climbed into the top 50 of the world rankings.
Maria Toorpakai Wazir and Jonathon Power are game changers. They demonstrate how courage and compassion transcends barriers and how much we can accomplish by working together. Wazir and Power are teaming up once more to become leaders on a different playing field; together, they will be contributing to the work of Kristin Kim, founder of Sansori, who is leading the way in changing education.
Sansori's model of education is revolutionary in three ways. First, participants learn through direct experience (travel, job training, storytelling, problem solving). Second, rather than sinking into debt, participants pay what they can afford as their tuition. Lastly, participants gain clarity on ways they can channel and apply their passion to a social business, develop a professional network and references, and gain tools for effective communication and mind-body connection.
Sansori's Bridge Year ) opens with a three-week session in Toronto in August 2014, with workshops in storytelling, problem solving, leadership and mind-body connection. Wazir and Power will star in the Leadership Workshops, and Maria is excited about sharing her insights and experience. "Sansori is like me," she explained. "I did not go through the traditional education system. I learned through travel, through practical training, through direct experience. I am a different and better person as a result. Sansori is the way of the future."
About Sansori, LLC
Sansori (www.sansori.org) has introduced a new approach to learning that travels well beyond traditional education. Bridge Year shifts the paradigm, providing students with an opportunity to discover their own path through direct experience. Students connect with their passion via real-world business training. Sansori's mission is to facilitate learning through an experiential format, freeing students from the stifling world of standardized tests.
Sansori's Bridge Year provides students with the chance to broaden their perspectives and become global citizens. It offers them practical means to grow personally while making positive contributions to the local and global community.
Sansori programs are centered on Compassion, Community and Commerce. Sansori is not affiliated with any religious, ethnic or political organization and is funded by private investors.
Contact:
Caitlin Hudson
+1 (413) 282-8868
Email