MEDIA

Exclusive video project by Peoplegrapher

PHOENIX

Sohaila, Zahra and Zeinab train every day.
Their dream is to become professional fighters and to show the world that all people are equal.
We spent a week in and around the Malakasa refugee camp outside Athens getting to know these inspirational young Afghan women, documenting their gruelling commitment to fitness and their raging passion for equality.
starring: @sohailashojayie , @miss_ghazal242 @zeinab_a_s_ and @shojayie_bahar
production: @peoplegrapher
director: Lukas Tielke
dop: Lukas Tielke
additional camera: @nnloenn
photographer: @stevemarais
analog photographer: @drphilrom
editor: @marvin.kuehner
colorist: @kingofcurtis / @glassworksvfx
music, sound design & mix: @staubaudio @moritz.staub & @karinpallier
graphic design: @george_popovv
NGO: @yogasportwithrefugees

MEDIA ARTICLES

2023

One World (Nederlands) – Op Lesbos Bouwen Vluchtelingen mee aan hun eigen ‘Gevangenis’ – (Refugees on Lesbos are helping to build their own ‘prison’)

La Veu (Catalan) – ‘Les polítiques d’immigració de la UE no tenen cap sentit, només provoquen sofriment’ (‘EU immigration policies make no sense, they only cause suffering’)

Sud Ouest Dimanche (Français) – Un camp d’accueil de réfugiés, ça ne devrait pas être une prison (A refugee camp should not be a prison).

Sud Ouest (Français) – Foot, boxe, karaté… Une Girondine entraîne des réfugiés à Lesbos : “Un camp d’accueil, ça ne devrait pas être une prison” (Football, boxing, karate… A Gironde trains refugees in Lesbos: “A reception camp should not be a prison”)

FK Magazine (visual media) – GYM Images by Photographer, Hilde Honerud

Publico (Spanish) – Solicitantes de asilo, explotados para construir su propia prisión en Lesbos (Asylum seekers exploited to build their own prison in Lesvos)

Le Matin Dimanche (French) – “Un Syrien traverse le Léman à la nage pour les réfugiés” (Syrian man crosses Lake Geneva for refugees)

Tribune de Genève (French) – “Défi symbolique: Un Syrien va traverser le Léman à la nage pour les réfugiés” (Symbolic challenge: A Syrian will swim across Lake Geneva for refugees)

The Bellman (English) – “Swimming To Raise Awareness of Plight of Refugees”

Espana Badminton (Spanish) – “Yoga and Sport with Refugees en Lesbos ya disfruta del bádminton con el material donado por la FESBA” (Yoga and Sport with Refugees in Lesbos already enjoy badminton with the material donated by FESBA)

Εφημερίδα η Εποχή (Greek) – “Μια μέρα στο γυμναστήριο της οργάνωσης Yoga and Sport with Refugees” (A day at the gym of the organization Yoga and Sport with Refugees)

YOGA magazine (English) – “The Life of a Refugee – Can Yoga Really Make A Difference?”

2022

Trifugee (English) – “Building bridges with Sports” – Interview mit Nina von YSR (Interview with Nina from YSR)

FC St. Pauli (English) – Boxen auf Lesbos mit Refugees

France Info:Sport (Français) – Paris 2024: Depuis le camp de Lesbos, Mahmood Alizada, réfugié afghan, court après son rêve olympique.
(Paris 2024: From the camp on Lesvos, Mahmood Alizada, Afghan refugee, runs after his Olympic dream)

Info:Sport (Français) – Paris 2024: “En France, tout ce que je veux c’est continuer de courir”, rêve Mahmood Alizada, réfugié afghan (Paris 2024: “In France, all I want it’s to continue running”, dreams Mahmood Alizada, Afghan refugee)

The New Humanitarian (English) – How sports help refugees survive harsh conditions in Greece

Barriers to Bridges Magazine (English) – Removing barriers of marginalisation, building bridges to empower communities (Part 1)

Barriers to Bridges Magazine (English) – Borders and Bodybuilding: Insights into life as a refugee in Europe (Part 2)

2021

InfoMigrants (Video) – Migrants and refugees stranded in Greece find solace in yoga and sport

Berlin Braves (English) – Introducing Suss and Estelle

InfoMigrants (English) – The NGO Yoga and Sport with Refugees helps migrants in Lesbos and Athens cope with their harsh living conditions

El Pais (Français) – Entrenar cuerpo y mente para sobrevivir a Lesbos

El Pais (Français) – El poder liberador del deporte y el yoga para los refugiados en Grecia

La Veu (Français) – L’Ajuntament aprova una subvenció extraordinària per a dos projectes humanitaris a Lesbos

Sud Ouest (Français) – Sur l’île de Lesbos, une Girondine fait bouger les migrants

De Volkskrant (Nederlands) – In de Vluchtelingensportschool op Lesbos geeft niemand op

Nederlands Dagblad (Nederlands) – Rennen, boksen, kungfu: sporten om te overleven buiten Moria 2.0

Sontag (Deutsche) – Yoga und Sport mit Flüchtlingen

Spiegel (Deutsche) – Sport machen, um nicht verrückt zu werden

2020

SportandDev (English) – Europe: Sport and exercise for refugees in Greece

Slate (English) – The looming refugee Coronavirus disaster

Emil Mavrofidis (Video) – Yoga and Sport for Refugees | Running Team.

2016

Vice (English) – Helping refugees battle boredom with yoga, circus tricks, and storytelling

VIDEOGRAPHY

Check out our YouTube!
Tadam… First episode of our homemade mini series ! To be continued… ⏳ Stay tuned ⚠. But in the meantime, get our merch from our shop and give the gift of sport🎄🎁. On our website : https://yogasportwithrefugees.org/shop/ A huge thanks to Hooman, our volleyball coach but also the best main character 💛 #strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #community #breakborders #merchandise #sport #christmas
🎬 1/3 BREAK BORDERS CHRISTMAS CAMPAIN SERIES 🎬
🌍 Ready, set, run for a global impact! 🏃‍♀️ 🌟 Mark your calendars for September 10th as we get ready for the Global Run From the historic streets of Athens to the picturesque landscapes of Lesvos, the vibrant vibes of Montreal, the romance of Paris, the energy of London, the spirit of Moscow, and the style of Milan – we will all be connected through sport and run on the same day! 🗺️💫 Join us as we come together to raise awareness and funds for our classes, coaches, and gyms. 🏋️‍♂️ Register now in your preferred city or seize the opportunity to create your own event. Let's run for a better world for displaced people and support the community worldwide! 🌐🏆 🌍 Έτοιμος, σετ, τρέξε για παγκόσμιο αντίκτυπο! 🏃‍♀️ 🌟 Σημειώστε τα ημερολόγιά σας για τις 10 Σεπτεμβρίου, καθώς ετοιμαζόμαστε για το Global Run Από τους ιστορικούς δρόμους της Αθήνας μέχρι τα γραφικά τοπία της Λέσβου, τη ζωντανή ατμόσφαιρα του Μόντρεαλ, τον ρομαντισμό του Παρισιού, την ενέργεια του Λονδίνου, το πνεύμα της Μόσχας και το στυλ του Μιλάνου – όλοι θα συνδεθούμε μέσω του αθλητισμού και θα τρέξουμε την ίδια μέρα! 🗺️💫 Ελάτε μαζί μας καθώς συγκεντρωνόμαστε για να αυξήσουμε την ευαισθητοποίηση και τα χρήματα για τα μαθήματα, τους προπονητές και τα γυμναστήρια μας. 🏋️‍♂️ Εγγραφείτε τώρα στην πόλη που προτιμάτε ή αδράξτε την ευκαιρία να δημιουργήσετε τη δική σας εκδήλωση. Ας τρέξουμε για έναν καλύτερο κόσμο για τους εκτοπισμένους και ας υποστηρίξουμε την κοινότητα σε όλο τον κόσμο! 🌐🏆
GLOBAL RUN 2023 - In Solidarity with Displaced People and Refugees Worldwide #strongertogether
🗓️SAVE THE DATE🗓️ 📣MONDAY 07/08📣 🏊🏽‍♂️JOIN US FOR A CROSS BORDER SWIM with the Refugee Olympic Team Swimmer @alaamasoo🏊‍♀️ 🇨🇭🇫🇷We will swim 12km and cross the Swiss French Border. 12km is the same distance as between Lesvos and Turkey. Where over 10.000 people try to cross every year in hope for a better life ✊🏽✊🏿✊🏻 💜WE STAND WITH YOU 💜 #strongertogether #swimforgood #teamysr SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISER and Help Refugees Reconnect with Water https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/swim-for-good-help-refugees-reconnect-with-water/
Cross Border Swim with Refugee Olympic Team Swimmer Maso - in Solidarity with People on the Move
💛The energy, joy, love and community portrayed in this video, perfectly embody the essence of Yoga and Sport with Refugees🤍 📍A place where people come to learn, to grow #strongertogether and to build a community through the power of sport and solidarity. 💪🏾A place where hope is fuelled, where people regain agency in their daily lives, despite the attempts of European and Greek authorities to oppress them. ✊🏿A safe and healthy space to work on physical and mental health, where people from all backgrounds are welcome to become a part of the YSR family.✊🏻 📷 Thank you to @studiomatussiere for perfectly capturing the essence of YSR Lesvos 💛Η ενέργεια, η χαρά, η αγάπη και η κοινότητα που απεικονίζονται σε αυτό το βίντεο, ενσωματώνουν τέλεια την ουσία της γιόγκα και του αθλητισμού με πρόσφυγες 📍Ένας τόπος όπου οι άνθρωποι έρχονται για να μάθουν, να γίνουν #δυνατότεροι μαζί και να οικοδομήσουν μια κοινότητα μέσω της δύναμης του αθλητισμού και της αλληλεγγύης. 💪🏾Ένας τόπος όπου τροφοδοτείται η ελπίδα, όπου οι άνθρωποι ανακτούν την εξουσία στην καθημερινότητά τους, παρά τις προσπάθειες των ευρωπαϊκών και ελληνικών αρχών να τους καταπιέσουν. ✊🏿Ένας ασφαλής και υγιής χώρος εργασίας για τη σωματική και ψυχική υγεία, όπου άτομα από κάθε υπόβαθρο είναι ευπρόσδεκτα να γίνουν μέλη της οικογένειας YSR.✊🏻 📷 Ευχαριστούμε τον @studiomatussiere για την τέλεια αποτύπωση της ουσίας του YSR Lesvos #strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #leavenoonebehind #nomorecamps #nohumanisillegal #humanrights #gym #yoga #sport
Yoga and Sport with Refugees - The Essence of the Lesvos Gym
Another month has flown by. Another month of doing sport, empowering each other, stepping up the game and of community building!🤸 Check out the full report 📎LINK IN BIO📎 Άλλος ένας μήνας πέρασε. Άλλος ένας μήνας αθλητισμού, ενδυνάμωσης ο ένας του άλλου, ενίσχυσης του παιχνιδιού και οικοδόμησης κοινότητας!🤸 Δείτε την πλήρη αναφορά 📎LINK ΣΤΟ BIO📎 #strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #leavenoonebehind #nomorecamps #nohumanisillegal #humanrights #gym #yoga #sport
Monthly Update - Yoga and Sport with Refugees - June 2023
We had a wonderful Eid party with all our community!<br />We cooked together during the day and it was a great moment to enjoy each others company!<br />We hosted a diner for around 250 people with Afghan, camroonese and Eritrean food! <br />We played badminton and volleyball before the food and afterwards we danced on songs from all around the world ! <br />We were so happy to have Cantalaloun coming and singing for us! Thank you! <br /><br />Thank you to all the team for making this amazing moment happen ❤️<br /><br />Thank you to the cooks and our coach for their help 😘🙏🏽<br /><br />A big thanks to @chooselove for their donation for us to be able to purchase all the food necessary to cook. <br /><br />We are so happy to organise events like these to gather everyone together ❤️
YSR Eid Party in Lesvos
The true value of #strongertogether can be seen on the field especially - in sport like basketball, football and volleyball! To cover the annual cost of the rent of the fields we are organizing events across Europe to grow and support our communities near and far. 🎉 JOIN our events ❤️ SHARE our video 🙏 DONATE to our fundraiser here: https://goto.gg/59372 And enable us to empower displaced people through the power of sport!! ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿 #strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #leavenoonebehind #nomorecamps #nohumanisillegal #humanrights #gym #yoga #sport
YSR Field Sport Campaign 2023
Check out our boxing activities in Paris - no matter where we go, we are always #strongertogether and empower each other through the power of sport! ❤️<br /><br />It doesn't matter how old or young or fit or new we are - we always empower each other through sport and sweat and smile together. <br /><br />#strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #leavenoonebehind #nomorecamps #nohumanisillegal #humanrights #gym #yoga #sport
Boxing with Refugees Paris - Yoga and Sport with Refugees
Meet Mina, who was a fitness coach in our Athens team! We miss you Mina and your kindness and motivation will always stay with us #strongertogether This March we challenge you to stand in solidarity with women and to bring a sister to the gym, show her your sport and #liftherup by empowering her because: SHE CAN! We can only achieve #genderequity with a dialogue on both sides of the spectrum - so let’s get moving and become #strongertogether. Help us improve #genderequity by donating - Donate and support our sisters here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/sister-month/ Γνωρίστε τη Μίνα, η οποία ήταν προπονήτρια φυσικής κατάστασης στην ομάδα μας στην Αθήνα! Μας λείπεις Μίνα και η καλοσύνη και το κίνητρό σου θα μείνουν πάντα μαζί μας #strongertogether Αυτόν τον Μάρτιο σας προκαλούμε να σταθείτε αλληλέγγυα με τις γυναίκες και να φέρετε μια αδερφή στο γυμναστήριο, να της δείξετε το άθλημά σας και το #liftherup ενδυναμώνοντάς την γιατί: ΜΠΟΡΕΙ! Μπορούμε να πετύχουμε #ισότητα των φύλων μόνο με έναν διάλογο και στις δύο πλευρές του φάσματος - ας κινηθούμε λοιπόν και ας γίνουμε #δυνατότεροι μαζί. Βοηθήστε μας να βελτιώσουμε το #genderequity κάνοντας δωρεές - ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΣΤΟ BIO #internationalwomensday #genderequality #womensrights #womencan #womenempowerment #whorunsthewolrd #girlsruntheworld #women #liftherup #equity #strongertogether #yogaandsportwithrefugees #leavenoonebehind #nomorecamps #nohumanisillegal #humanrights #gym #yoga #sport
Meet Mina - Yoga and Sport with Refugees Athens - #liftherup
Load More... Follow Us on Youtube

ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

Kimberly Ann Gerken

2021 – Master of Arts thesis, University of Oregon

Breaking Down the Walls: Fostering Opportunity and Dignity Amongst Refugee Women and Girls Through Sport

Nina Nymeyer

2020-21 – Master of Research thesis, Macquarie University

Wild Yoga: Refugee Communities Transforming Self and Surroundings Through Movement

Priya Nair

2021/22 – Master of International Development thesis, Paris School of International Affairs

Life in a Hotspot: Examining Refugees’ Resilience and Coping Processes amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Will you change a life today?

As long as poverty, injustice and inequality exist, we can not rest. It isn’t difficult to make a change. Take action and make the difference today.