MEDIA
Articles, media and publications
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
2026
Stonisi.gr – Το Taekwondo γίνεται γέφυρα για παιδιά στη Λέσβο [Taekwondo becomes a bridge for children in Lesvos – Greek]
NRC Handelsblad Netherlands – Volgens Nederland kunnen asielzoekers gerust teruggestuurd worden naar Griekenland. Daar denken veel Griekse ngo’s anders over [According to the Netherlands, asylum seekers can safely be sent back to Greece. Many Greek NGOs disagree – Dutch]
International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) – Global Integration of Refugees through Sport Inspiring Examples Publication
Nuoto.com – Acqua Without Fear: costruire la fiducia prima della tecnica [Building Confidence Before Technique – Italian]
GreekReporter.com – How Sports are Building Community for Refugees in Greece
2025
Le Monde (French) – Dix ans de non-accueil des personnes exilées en France
El Salto Diario (Spain) – Fútbol en Lesbos, o de cómo hacer equipo en el exilio (Giacomo Sini)
Direction[s] (France) – Après l’exil, se refaire une santé… mentale (Alexandra Luthereau)
Seavoice, Seastories Volume 6: WaterWomxn – Reclaiming the Sea (Louiza Bendz)
Beyond Sport – Upskilling for Impact: Strengthening NGOs to Fuel Progress
Artemisia Collective: Talks with Goddesses Podcast – Episode 6: Sport for Social Impact
2024
Diumenge (Catalan) – Aprender a nedar quasi perds vida (Giacomo Sini)
AlJazeera (English) – Facing the fear of water: Refugees learn to swim in Lesbos (Giacomo Sini)
La Presse (French) – Replonger après le traumatisme de la traversée (Diving back after the trauma of the crossing)
Taz (German) – Das Meer zurückgewinnen (Reclaiming the sea)
Irunmag.gr (Greek) – Global Run το Σάββατο 7 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024
Ekathimerini – A new chapter for a constant survivor (Marianna Kakounaki)
UltimoOumo – Che c’entra lo sport con l’accoglienza dei rifugiati (Andrea Lamperti)
Ta Nea (Greek) – Επέστρεψε και κολύμπησε για τους πρόσφυγες
Catalan News – Refugees in Greek camp improved mental health through gym initiative
Vita.gr (Greek) – Swim For Good 2024: Κολυμπήσαμε 12χλμ για όλους τους πρόσφυγες (Maria Trakada)
Marie Claire (Greek) – Yusra Mardini: Επέστρεψε στη Λέσβο εννέα χρόνια αφού κολύμπησε για να σώσει τη ζωή της
Stonisi (Greek) – Swim For Good και στη Μυτιλήνη
Politis (French) Hors Série – Athènes, le sport comme réfuge (Martin Bertrand)
Méditation (French) – Le Yoga comme soutien pour réfugiés (Jessica Xavier)
FeedbackLab (English) – Effective Feedback in Multicultural Environments
2023
The Borgen Project (English) – The Benefits of Sports in Greek Refugee Camps
Geo Ado (French) – Ados réfugies : Le défi de s’intégerer, Photos et témoignages de Martin Bertrand (Teenage Refugees and the challenges of integration.)
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 (French) – 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) – Borders and Bodybuilding: Insights into life as a refugee in Europe (Part 2)
Barriers to Bridges Magazine (English) – Borders and Bodybuilding: Insights into life as a refugee in Europe (Part 1)
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 (Catalan) – 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.
Academia
Beatrice Pilosio
2025 – Master’s thesis, Università degli Studi di Trento, Dipartimento di Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale
Léo Panou
2024 – Master’s thesis, Sciences Po Bordeaux (University of Bordeaux)
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, Australia
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
Press Releases
September 2024
2024 Swim Program Magazine
July 2024
Swim For Good 2024 with Yusra Mardini and Butterfly by Yusra Mardini
“Refugee” Word Statement – Yoga and Sport with Refugees
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