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 | 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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Jul 7, 2025
Sisters, Whispers and Blisters!

By Donal Cotter | Communications Manager

These past three months have been jam-packed full of events, campaigns and sports at YSR! Thanks to your generosity, we've been able to keep our gym spaces alive and active, helping thousands of refugees train together, make friends, and interact with their host communities in fun, engaging ways.

MARCH

We kicked off the month of March by celebrating with all our sisters - not just Interational Women's Day, but Sister Month! We designated the whole month of March to women's empowerment and held a bunch of women-exclusive activities and sport sessions above and beyond the daily women's time we have at our gyms. There were picnics, self-defence classes, and a whole campaign we called the "Fitness Marathon", championed by our team in Athens. Fitness teachers, coaches and influencers from across the world teamed up with YSR to run special classes that helped to keep our women's sports alive.

Also in March, we celebrated the Islamic month of Ramadan with special 'iftars', the traditional breaking of the fast in Muslim cultures. Each of our projects - Lesvos, Athens, Ioannina and Paris held at least one iftar meal for the local community with free food, laughter and opportunities for cultural learning. We also celebrated the Persian New Year, Nowruz, which happened to fall during Ramadan this year, so it was a double celebration!

APRIL

In April, we joined sports NGOs from all over Europe to celebrate two big events: #NoElevatorsDay and #MoveWeek. These events, run by an organisation called NowWeMove raise not just a whisper but a shout for the power of exercise to keep you physically and mentally fit! We had an amazing outdoor bouldering day on Lesvos, city runs in Athens and Paris, and a beautiful and picturesque hike up the Zagori steps in Ioannina. Plus, for Move Week, team Athens joined us on Lesvos for an epic volleyball contest between the two teams. In the end, the YSR teams both failed though and our refugee community won. As it should be!

MAY

May was a full month, but the highlight for sure was the Coast to Coast for Coaches run on Lesvos. The team on Lesvos prepared for weeks ahead of time, recruiting runners and organizing logistics to run 320km, an entire loop around the island of Lesvos! Almost 50 runners participated on Lesvos, and over 100 other runners joined us in solidarity from their home countries. It was a real show of endurance and of community spirit - lots of blisters to take care of! The funds raised will go towards our coach program and paying staff salaries.

Thanks to all of you who continue to support YSR and our mission to use sport for the empowerment of those who need it most. Please keep standing in solidarity with YSR and our community! <3

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