Yoga and Sport for Refugees

As some of you may know I have been working in the primary health care clinic in Moria Refugee Camp on Lesbos. The conditions in the camp have been catastrophic for a long time. While things are slowly going back to normal for us, the Greek government is continuing to extended the lockdown for the camp. This is not to prevent refugees from getting COVID. Instead the lockdown is used as political tool to lock the refugees up in the camp, directly leading to more physical, mental and psychological problems.

A lot of people in the camp have suffered traumatic experiences and are experiencing traumatic stress everyday of being in Moria.

One of the main problems is that there is very very limited access to psychological support.

In wound care we see a lot of young people coming everyday, who have harmed themselves. We have such limited capacity to offer psychological support that often all we can do is put bandages on the wound.

Due to the lockdown of the Moria camp, people can no longer distract themselves and leave the camp.

One place, however, that people can still go to is „Yoga and Sports for Refugees“. They are still running Muay Thai, Yoga and running sessions in and around Moria. Most of the trainers are people living in Moria Camp.

The problem is that due to break-ins during lockdown they are lacking boxing gloves and pads, yoga mats, sports clothes and cleaning material.

Exercising really helps peoples physical and mental health, especially with anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and depression. And it is also just nice to get a break from the stressful and monotonous everyday life of Moria.

A lot of people have already asked me how they can directly support people in Moria. With 1500 Euros we could fully equip the gym again giving people space to build community, regain hope and strength.

All the money that you donate will go directly towards buying equipment for the gym.

I just came back to Berlin for a few weeks but will be going back to Lesbos at the beginning of August. Also if you have equipment that you do not use anymore and is not broken, or if your gym has spare equipment they do not need, please message me. :)

What will the money be used for?

The rent of our YSFR Gym is 350 € and we need 150 € per month for maintenance.

• 30 € will buy a pair of boxing gloves for the different martial arts practises;
• 20 € will provide one of the members with sports clothes;
• 25 € will buy a pair of boxing pads for the training;
• 20 € per month will cover the costs of the cleaning products and laundry detergent we need to keep the gym as hygienic and clean as possible.

Thank you everyone!!

Check out their Website: https://sportforrefugees.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogasportforrefugees/