Habibi and Sport with Refugees (HSR)

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Since our last update in Summer Habibi and Sport for Refugees (HSR), has continued to grow and thrive in its mission of supporting refugees and empowering communities through sport and education.

September was a bittersweet month with three of our long-time coaches moving on. While we were sad to say goodbye to them, we were pleased to welcome new members to our team. In honor of International Peace Day, the HSR team also celebrated by making pancakes for residents living in the camps. The activity was extremely popular and many delicious pancakes were consumed!

In October the project also celebrated its six year anniversary with a day packed with various activities, including an organised run around the lake and a volleyball tournament. We ended the day by serving dinner to 230 people and watched a live show from Clowns without Borders. Throughout October we also facilitated several outdoor climbing and bouldering events in conjunction with our partners at MaiKai. The MaiKai team were also kind enough to change up the bouldering routes on our indoor climbing wall, which means our community members can climb regardless of the weather.

As we are shifting into a colder season in November, we have seen an increase in refugees arriving and taking part in the activities we host. This past month has seen challenges at Katsikas camp in particular, with new arrivals reaching maximum capacity. As our numbers continue, your support is vital in helping us create a safe and welcoming environment for the growing population of men, women and children living in refugee camps near the city of Ioannina.

As always thank you for your support, we are grateful and looking forward to keeping you updated on our progress!