IOANNINA

HSR Collaboration

While YSR is no longer actively participating in this project, Habibi & Sport with Refugees’ (HSR) started as a collaboration between several organisations:

(1) Habibi.Works, an intercultural maker-space and platform for education, empowerment and encounters for refugees and Greek locals in northern Greece!

(2) KOIZ, which was founded in 2016 with the purpose of creating a space for the exchange and dissemination of Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies through collaborative work between academia, social movements and NGOs.

(3) MAIKA’I Projects: A group of crazy and motivated climbers who want to change the world through climbing sport and values.

(4) Yoga and Sport With Refugees (YSR), which aims to empower and support forcibly displaced people build skills and connection through the power of sport.
NOTE: Since August 2025, YSR has stepped back from the sport program in Ioannina due to funding challenges. However, we’re happy to say that sports are still running thanks to Habibi.Works and MAIKA’I ongoing efforts.

HSR Gym

The gym space is located near Habibi.Works and is in close proximity to the refugee camp of Katsikas in Northern Greece. More than 3000 refugees and asylum seekers live in the region of Epirus, most of them without access to education, psychological support, the labour market, dignified living conditions or Greek society. People in the asylum process have little control over major or minor decisions in their life. Sport brings back some sense of agency, belonging and ownership, in addition to the benefits of sports to physical and mental health. This is why we aim to have the community engaged in every step of the construction of the project: from community meetings (where we set up our timetables) to their actual participation as community teachers, where they become leaders in the sport of their own choice.

Volleyball Courts

Volleyball is a big part of the sport program in Ioannina, often supported by Dutch NGO Let’s Keep the Ball Flying. Sometimes it’s played on courts in the city, sometimes on the courts next to the football field of Habibi.Works. It’s always welcoming, fun and full of energy.

Football Field

The football field is located near Habibi.Works, overlooked by some beautiful mountains. It is a great space for people to come and unwind, feel the team spirit and enjoy nature. Come rain or shine, the team is out there training.

Climbing Wall

Thanks to a collaboration with Spanish NGO Mai’Kai, there’s an amazing climbing project in the Ioannina gym. It is a space welcome to all, from beginners to experienced climbers. It’s a place for coaching and challenging others. At the wall, you can take each other to the next level and have a lot of fun while doing so!

Mountains

Of course, if part of the collaboration involves an organisation that’s crazy about climbing, then days of rock climbing in nearby mountains, with lots of safety equipment, is a must! The students always challenge themselves, climbing outside the gym’s climbing wall. Activities build trust, along with a lot of grip strength amongst the group!

Yoga Space

While many activities and classes are held in the main gym area next to the colourful climbing wall, including yoga classes, some are also held in a separate area around Habibi Works.

Weights Area

The weights area is popular amongst our visitors. Anyone is welcome to come and train and use the equipment!

Habibi.Works Community Space

Beside the gym is the Habibi.Works community space, which includes various services and resources to people on the move living in the centres or towns nearby. The space includes a Barber Shop, a Free Shop (for essentials), a Kitchen and communal area to spend time, connect and chill.