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 1, 2026
2026 in Three Campaigns

By Donal Cotter | Communications Manager

The first half of 2026 has been a busy stretch for YSR across Lesvos, Athens, and Paris, with a few real achievements and setbacks along the way.

In Athens, our team spent much of the winter and spring searching for a new home base after closing out our long-term space at Moschonision 20. While the search continued, classes kept running outdoors in Pedion tou Areos park and through partnerships with Combat Hive, Medecins du Monde, and European Expression. We added a new collaboration with Free Movement Skateboarding, started self-defense workshops with EmpowerVan outside Oinophita camp, and began Muay Thai and kickboxing sessions at two boys' shelters through European Experience. February brought a new partnership at Victoria Community Centre, where we now run fitness and movement classes for women and children. We've now finally found a new home in Athens, and the move has already begun. We hope to have classes running in the new space within the next few weeks.

Lesvos kept its programming steady through cold, wet weather early in the year, hosting volleyball and basketball sessions in Mytilene and a fitness competition for both women and men. We said goodbye to longtime climbing coach Mohamed and welcomed Hamzah, a former national-level basketball player from Yemen, who now leads climbing and basketball. May's highlight was the Lesvos YSR Champions League, a large island-wide football tournament that brought together NGOs and teams from across Lesvos. We also recently wrapped up our Lesvathlon, a 320km run around the island of Lesvos! This year, for the first time, we had participants running alongside us on every continent. Over 100 runners and clubs signed up, running in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Canada, Thailand and even Hawaii!

In Paris, the team built new relationships with Médecins Sans Frontières (a boxing class for teenagers), l'Auberge des Migrants, and the housing provider Hénéo, which is opening the door to classes in two new arrondissements. Boxing coach Mory reached the semi-finals of the Paris selection tournament. Coach coordinator Rahmatullah also spent a week training with the Polish national Muay Thai team.

Across all three locations, each team finalized its 2026 strategy following December's planning days, and we're working toward a public Policy Plan document. Fundraising stayed strong through community campaigns like the Lesvathlon and a solo cycling challenge around Lesvos by our Volunteer Coordinator Svenja, alongside renewed institutional support from Choose Love, Hoch Hinaus, Lululemon and others.

A recent community survey found that 87 percent of participants have a positive view of YSR's activities, a number we're proud of and want to keep earning. Thank you for making all of this possible.

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Mar 2, 2026
The end of a difficult year, and new hope ahead!

By Donal Cotter | Communications and Advocacy Manager

2025 was one of the most challenging years so far for Yoga and Sport with Refugees. We faced challenges, like all non-profits, from the well-

documented shrinking of NGO sector funding availability. This financial reality forced us to make a tough decision in 2025; to step back from our cherished project in Northern Greece, Habibi and Sport with Refugees.

To make matters worse, we had several acute problems brought about due to circumstances entirely beyond our control. In August, we were forced to shut down the gym on Lesvos with no notice, due to a foreclosure of the property because of our landlord’s bankruptcy. And, in September, our Athens gym was closed by police because of a malicious report that we were operating an illegal gym. Fortunately, we found a new gym space on Lesvos quickly, and our partners in Athens really helped us to keep sport classes running despite the lack of a premises. We now run classes in four locations across the city until we find a new Athens home.

But, leaving 2025, one thing keeps us moving forward: hope. Since YSR was founded in 2017, hope has been an essential part of everything we do. Our founder, Estelle, started out with voluntary sport sessions in a tiny tent next to a refugee camp. To imagine that small action could become a multi-project, multi-national NGO that supports many thousands of refugees must have taken outrageous hope. So, we enter 2026 with hope, but not just hope. We spent the end of 2025 deep in strategic discussion, planning for the year ahead and how we can respond to YSR’s unique challenges and more global challenges facing the non-profit sector. As always, Yoga and Sport with Refugees will continue fighting and remain #StrongerTogether.

Already this year we've managed to secure a good portion of our 2026 budget through existing partnerships, and we have some bright ideas to diversify our funding sources in 2026 to remain afloat. But, of course, we still rely on the ongoing support of individuals like you to keep the lights on.

A thousand thanks to everyone who continues to support YSR in 2026. We'd be lost without you!

- YSR Team

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Nov 3, 2025
YSR Lives on Despite Obstacles!

By Donal Cotter | Communications and Advocacy Manager

The past three months at Yoga and Sport with Refugees have held their share of challenges and bad luck but also, and most important of all, community spirit! And of course we met and overcame these challenges thanks, in no small part, to your support.

July brought experimentation and opportunity. Across Greece and France, our teams introduced (and re-introduced) sports like salsa, afro-dance, and swimming. Women-focused initiatives flourished; women-only yoga classes in Athens and swimming sessions on Lesvos became spaces for confidence-building and connection. Partnerships with NGOs and local festivals in Athens and Paris also opened up new doors for collaboration and inclusion. We held our annual Swim for Good event on Lesvos but with participating teams in many other cities across the world!

August tested our adaptability. When our Lesvos gym closed unexpectedly, an emergency fundraiser helped us secure a new location before month’s end; a lifeline for hundreds who rely on sport for wellbeing and belonging. In August we also stepped back from our Ioannina project Habibi and Sport with Refugees, but not before recording over 14,000 visits. The space is now transitioned to local partners Habibi Works and MaiKai, ensuring continuity and sustainability. Even amidst change, creativity thrived across all our locations with our dedicated staff and ever-creative volunteer teams keeping spirits high!

By September, our teams had found renewed strength. Reopened facilities, new volunteers, and a wave of trainings across our facilities. We had First Aid training with BRF, Humour Relief workshops with Red Noses, Pushback training with Lesvos Solidarity, Football tournaments, fitness contests, hikes, outdoor days, and an epic Erasmus+ activity week with new partners Madrid Outdoor Education and MNTL on Lesvos.

Every kilometer cycled, every swim stroked, every meal shared was fueled by your generosity. So thanks!

Thanks for believing in the power of sport to unite, heal, and inspire.

Regards,

The YSR Team!

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