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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