Refugee Rights Greece Project #58911

Improve refugees' life conditions in Greece

by Yoga and Sport with Refugees

Improve refugees' life conditions in Greece

Project Report | Jul 15, 2024
Pre-Summer Updates from YSR

By Ruvi | Project Coordinator

Dear Friend,

Hello, first and foremost I am writing to you to express our gratitude for those who have supported us thus far and to inform you about all the wonderful things we have achieved so far in 2024.

My name is Ruvi; I have been with YSR for a bit now and am still in love with the work I get to do. YSR never seems to not surprise me with how connected the team & community is. Everyday is something different, so here are a few highlights of the year so far..

Athens :

Starting off strong, the team and some members from the community attended Refugee Week where our Muay Thai coach, Ali held a fun workshop followed later on by a friendly competition of gymnastics- we had great fun.
A lot of our Interns are nearing the end of their internship with us so we held a karaoke night with a hint of watching the European Championships 2024 football game.
The Swim for Good was a huge success. The event was held in Lesvos, Athens, Paris, Geneva, Uganda and Sri Lanka and Beyond.
Hooman, our basketball coach, is giving classes to the children from Bahar's (partner NGO) summer camp for the summer.

Lesvos :

We had a super nice volleyball tournament that everyone joined, with 8 teams competing each other.
Swimming lessons have officially started with parents and kids twice per week.
The team participated in the Mytilini Night Race.
We took part in a running event where we collaborated with UNHCR and many other NGOs on the island. Staff members, volunteers and students we all together run 4 km by the castle of Mytilene! Afterwards we attended the concert at Sappho square! Amazing energy!

Ioannina :

Beginning of July we had our first women's Safeguarding training. It was a mixed team with Habibi team members, sport volunteers and coaches. We're happy we could create a space where people felt comfortable to share.
We held a volleyball tournament in the city centre where local teams also joined and the vibes were immaculate.
During one of the weekends the team organised a team climbing and swimming and lastly but not least the weekend ended with a women's hike and a picnic.

Paris :

Our running and boxing coaches went on an unforgettable trip to south of France with Yama where they taught sports everyday for 2 weeks and organised different sport challenges.
We took part in the Reillfugee Festival organised by our partner La Fourmiliere as well as joined a 5km race together with many Parisian runners, the race was organised by our partner MMSports.
We organised an event with La Fourmilière to introduce them to our activities. Besma taught a super nice yoga class and Rahmat taught boxing to everyone!
We got accepted in The Refugee house project in Paris to do sport classes Monday, Wednesday and Sundays! It started in June.

All this to say, it's always a heartwarming feeling to see the impact we have in Lesvos, Athens, Ioannina and Paris. #strongertogether

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Mar 19, 2024
Spring Update from YSR

By Ruvarashe (Ruvi) Matiyenga | Finance Intern

Nov 20, 2023
Autumn Update From YSR

By Safia Munro | Project Intern

Lesvos Team!

Dear friends and valued supporters,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Safia, and I’ve been lucky enough to intern at the Yoga and Sport for Refugees (YSR) since June. My YSR experience has been an incredible learning opportunity and one I would recommend for anyone looking to gain experience in the NGO sector.

In October we celebrated our sixth anniversary, and as we reflect on YSR’s achievements, we are overwhelmed with gratitude at your unwavering support. Your contributions and commitment to our mission have been instrumental in making a meaningful impact on the lives of refugees in Greece and beyond.

Over the past quarter your donations have helped fund several projects, including our summer Swim For Good Campaign, a trauma-informed learn-to-swim program providing safety, mental and physical health and a peaceful relationship with water. As part of the campaign YSR ambassador Alaa Maso, a competitor in the 2020 Refugee Olympics, swam 12km to bring awareness to the high-risk journeys undertaken by people on the move arriving in Europe.

Throughout September we also celebrated our annual Global Run, a community-focused event aiming to raise funds and show solidarity with people on the move. Across the globe, from North America to Europe and North Africa over 400 people, united through sport and movement, ran together. All funds raised have gone towards YSR programs, classes and most importantly our coach team, without whom YSR would not exist!

Over the past six years the YSR community has experienced remarkable growth, expanding to new locations and consistently developing and training our diverse team of coaches and coordinators. As an independent and privately-funded organization, these opportunities have only been made possible through the continuous support of members like yourself.

As we enter 2024, we invite you to follow our journey and witness the real impact of your donations, trusting that your continued support will inspire others to support our cause.

Thank you for being an integral part of the YSR family!

Warmly,

Safia

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