Sarah Van Vooren - Co-Founder & Executive Director
A passionate feminist, Sarah Van Vooren has lived in India, Cambodia, Philippines, Haiti, Jordan, Kenya & Nepal the past seven years, working with & managing grassroots sport for development non-profits which use football & education to empower girls in rural communities of underdeveloped countries.
Originally from Iowa, U.S.A., she graduated from Loyola University Chicago & completed a Master of Philosophy in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Sarah is a three time Guinness World Records holder.
Sarah's passions include sports, empowering and mentoring girls and young women and traveling the world to continually learn by visiting new cultures, understanding different religions, and experiencing everyday life of different societies. And of course, coffee!
Mashreeb Aryal - Co-Founder & Director of Operations
Hailing from Nepal, Mashreeb Aryal has worked with girls and adults using sports, education, and narrative therapy throughout Nepal & India over the past seven years. He strongly believes empowering girls to bring about gender equity is key for the holistic development of any society.
An All India Football Federation (AIFF) licensed football coach; he graduated with a BA in English from Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce and completed a Masters’ Degree in Social Work from Madras Christian College, India. He is a trained Narrative Therapy practitioner as well.
A passionate footballer, Mashreeb also enjoys spending time with children, practicing yoga and meditation, biking, hiking and all things nature.
G. Sharanya Rao - Program Manager
A national-level ex-athlete from India, Sharanya has taught and mentored children in rural India and Nepal over the past 7 years. She has always been strongly drawn to children and believes that all children deserve a happy and safe childhood.
Having graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology-Sociology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, she went on to receive her M.A. in Education from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, where she specialised in Curriculum and Pedagogy. She is additionally a National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified teacher, by the University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
Sharanya is an avid reader, an outdoors lover and is fluent in 6 languages. She loves to travel and is currently enjoying the thrill of learning to ride a motorbike in the Himalayas!
Atoot Board (Nepal)
President: Mona Giri
Ms. Giri is currently based in Kathmandu and is working as a Regional Program Manager at Population Services International.
Vice President: Sudhamshu Dahal
An Asst. Professor of Media and ICT Studies at Kathmandu University, Mr. Dahal lives with his family in Kathmandu.
Secretary: Mibusha Ghimire Sapkota
Ms. Sapkota is currently working at the Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP) and is based out of Kathmandu.
Treasurer: Mahesh Prasad Aryal
With over 35 years of work experience, Mr. Aryal is a lawyer and businessman from Kathmandu.
Member: Sobina Lama
A Program Manager in Disaster Risk Reduction at Lumanti Support Group for Shelter, Ms. Lama lives in Kathmandu with her family.
Member: Gita Rasaili
Ms. Rasaili is based out of Kathmandu and is currently working at Voices of Women Media.
Member: Manrup Prasad Kamal
With over 40 years of experience in the education sector, Mr. Kamal is currently the School Co-Ordinator at Evergreen Secondary Boarding School, Janakpur.
