Help us get a new VAN to foster community !

In the past months, thanks to your generosity, we were able to keep going with our collaboration with Stand By Me and use the van for our project. Once again, the van proved to be an essential asset for our work.

On a daily basis, it allowed us to facilitate women participation in our activities. Indeed, having a lift with the van from the Kara Tape refugee camp pre and post women dedicated time at our gym, is considered by the women of our community an essential condition to take part in our project. This is particularly important during winter months when the sun sets early and walking alone is perceived as dangerous.

Additionally, having the van also allowed us to organise small trips for the members of our community. Again, this is particularly important for women, that we were able to take on hikes and even a climbing trip. These small events are incredibly well received by members of our community, as they offer a chance to escape the harsh realities of the camp and have a moment to socialise and make new experiences like trying a new sport.

Moreover, the van allows us to participate in competitions and events on the island, which are a great opportunity for the members of our community to close the gap with the local society. In the past months these events included several trail runs, sports trips and, of course, our relay run of 320km that we organised around Lesvos.

Finally, at the beginning of summer, we will also use the van for our swimming lessons. These are always a great success among our community, and have proven to be extremely beneficial for them, especially due to their traumatic experiences in crossing the sea from Turkey to Greece, the snow classes offer a chance to reconcile the relationship with water and start a healing process.

If you want to contribute to these amazing activities, please continue to support us, and stay tuned for the next updates!

Stand By Me is a non-profit organization operating in Lesvos since 2017, focusing on the education and empowerment of people on the move. Over the past year, YSR has fostered a close collaboration with Stand By me , combining efforts to provide impactful initiatives and resources for our shared communities.

Key collaborative highlights include joint training, such as a session on the Pylos shipwreck case conducted by the lawyer involved, and a Psychological First Aid (PFA) training provided by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). We also initiated a collaborative dance project aimed at creating a safe space for participants to express themselves. The ultimate goal is to form a team capable of presenting choreography at the Lesvos Municipality Theater, promoting visibility, raising awareness, and empowering participants.   

Most recently, (and excitingly!) related to this project, to help women access the gym, we have established a collaboration whereby YSR can use the Stand By Me van daily from 4:00 to 6:30 PM. Additionally, this partnership creates opportunities for us to participate in local running races and organize trips for our coaches and volunteers, fostering team building and community engagement...

Stay tuned for more updates!