IOC Young Leader Sara Moamen Abdelsamie wins Allianz Power of Unity Award

13 August 2025 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leader Sara Moamen Abdelsamie has been named one of three global recipients of the 2025 Power of Unity Awards, an initiative by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Allianz that recognises individuals and grassroots clubs using sport to bring people together and create positive social change. The award was given for empowering refugee and marginalised youth through the transformative power of sport.

Sara received the award for her work with Alhalimun (“The Dreamers”), a Cairo-based project she founded that is dedicated to supporting marginalised children, particularly refugees in Egypt, through sport. Established in 2024, the initiative creates safe and inclusive spaces where participants can play, heal and develop life skills. The Power of Unity Award includes EUR 10,000 in financial support from the Allianz MoveNow Fund to expand the reach and impact of winning projects, as well as visibility opportunities and access to a global network of changemakers brought together by Allianz.

My mission has always been to support children and youth and help them pave their own paths – but being recognised as one of the three global winners was an incredible surprise. Words cannot express our gratitude for this recognition by Allianz. I see it as a powerful motivation for the entire Alhalimun team, participants and trainers to keep going. We are not just running activities; we are opening new doors – creating opportunities in sport for children, youth and trainers, and giving refugees the tools to build brighter futures.

Sara Moamen Abdelsamie – IOC Young Leader

Through an initial collaboration with Leipzig University, in 2024, Alhalimun delivered its first Train-the-Trainer programme, equipping coaches with the skills to lead inclusive sports initiatives. Building on this foundation, in 2025, Alhalimun partnered with the World Flying Disc Federation and local entities to expand training and community outreach. As a result, 48 trainers—both Egyptian and refugee—have been prepared to deliver high-quality, inclusive sports programmes in their communities. Alongside its regular activities for children, the initiative has reached over 50,000 people through social media, traditional media, and on-the-ground engagement, conducted two local workshops, and organised two major festivals, engaging 150 registered children and youth in Egypt and celebrating unity through sport.

Alhalimun engages children and teenagers aged 8 to 17 in sports including football, volleyball, basketball, flying disc and boxing, alongside educational activities such as IT and language skills training. The project uses trauma-informed coaching and leadership development, led by a diverse team, many of whom have lived experience of displacement.

Allianz championing the unifying power of sport

The Power of Unity Awards form part of Allianz’s broader “Power of Unity” programme, which aims to show how sport can unite us in an increasingly divided world.

The launch of the Unity Awards followed the findings of the MoveNow Thought Leadership study, conducted in partnership with the IOC’s Olympism365 Unit in 2023. The research, which surveyed young people and parents across 10 countries, underscored the importance of sport in young lives.

As a long-term partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, Allianz plays an active role not only on the global stage at the Olympic Games, but also at the local level, supporting sports clubs and federations across its core markets.

International Youth Day underlines importance of young people’s contributions

Sara’s recognition by Allianz comes just after International Youth Day was celebrated around the world on 12 August. This year’s focus was on Local Youth Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Beyond. The theme aimed to highlight the role of young people in transforming global goals into local realities, particularly in areas linked to community inclusion, social cohesion and sustainable development. With more than 65 per cent of SDG targets connected to local governance, youth-led initiatives such as Alhalimun highlight the role of sport in translating global commitments into tangible community impact.

Sara has been part of the IOC Young Leaders initiative since 2023. She is part of a four-year programme that is equipping 25 young changemakers from around the world with the skills, funding and mentorship to deliver sport-based projects that address local challenges and promote the Olympic values.

Launched in 2016, the IOC Young Leaders Programme empowers young people to leverage the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities. The programme contributes to Olympism365, the IOC’s approach to using sport as an important enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and specifically to Olympism365’s innovation portfolio, which aims to identify, sustain and scale innovative sports-based approaches that deliver concrete impact in targeted communities.

IOC Young Leaders Programme

The IOC Young Leaders programme, launched in 2016, empowers talents to leverage the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities.