Book Maria
Maria Toorpakai is available for speaking engagements. All funds raised from Maria's speaking engagements go to Maria Toorpakai Foundation (MTF), which supports and promotes young girls through sports by providing equal opportunities to be free, play and explore their full potential.
Maria Toorpakai Speaking at the Vatican (Picture)
Maria has carried out acclaimed speaking engagements and is well-received and respected for her unique perspective on human rights, equality, girls' empowerment & Peace through Sports.
Maria Toorpakai Wazir is a multiple award winning professional Squash Champion, true humanist and leading visionary for global peace through sports. She is member of Women in Sports Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Her remarkable story of resilience and courage, as told in her autobiography, A Different Kind of Daughter, was published worldwide in 2016. Her life story inspired the documentary, “The War to be Her” (Girl Unbound), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been shown on PSB, at the United Nations, and at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, among many more.
Maria has been featured on CNN, PBS, BBC, CBC, HBO, FOX, Al Jazeera, The economist, Teen Vogue, France 24 News and many more either in films or interviews.
Maria Toorpakai Speaking at the United Nations, New York
Maria speaking at Lincoln Center, New York. Oslo Freedom Forum
Originally from the Waziristan tribal areas of the Pak-Afghanistan border, controlled by the Taliban, where girls’ involvement in sports is strictly forbidden by the ultra-conservative patriarchal society & by extremist militancy, Maria combated this challenge by training and competing as a boy under the name of "Gangis Khan". She became ranked as Pakistan’s no. 1 squash player, 3rd in the world juniors, and 41st in the world seniors.
Maria has spoken on multiple prestigious stages including the United Nations, Harvard Club, Women in the World Conference, Oslo Freedom Forum, MISK Global Forum, Women Deliver Global Forum as well as has been invited to a number of schools, universities and churches.
Contact Maria’s Agent
Jayme Boucher, Director, Hachette Speakers Bureau | Hachette Book Group | 1290 Sixth Ave, New York, NY 10104
w: 212-364-1286 | she/her
maria.toorpakai.wazir@gmail.com
Maria Toorpakai Autobiography ‘‘A Different Kind of Daughter’’
Maria at book signing of ‘‘A Different Kind Of Daughter’’.
The Twin girls review on Documentary Girl Unbound at Human Rights Watch Film Festival, UK.
Lancaster Country Day School visit
Maria Toorpakai’s Lecture