Greece / Lesvos / Mytilene
Key-stakeholders involved:
- Movement On The Ground
- FC Barcelona Foundation
Brief description
Implementation of the practice
Impact
Lessons learnt/recommendation
Contact details
Movement On The Ground (MOTG) is a Dutch organisation founded in 2015 by five independent business people and creatives motivated to transform humanitarian aid and deliver a more human-centred, sustainable and innovative response to the refugee crisis.
At the core of MOTG’s mission is Camp to campUS, the process of transforming refugee camps into safe, educational and stimulating environments WITH and FOR refugees. The philosophy intends to unlock the talent and potential of refugees, enabling them to take control of their living circumstances, be involved in the running of programs and establish a warm connection to their new host community.
MOTG has been conducting SportNet, a sports programme funded by FC Barcelona Foundation, since 2017. The programme is available for all children of ages 6 to 18, who reside in the refugee camps (previously in Kara Tepe CampUs and the Unaccompanied Minors of Moria Camp, and currently in RIC Lesvos) and Greek children from Moria village.
SportNet is a methodology that teaches values through sports. It encourages social inclusion and personal development. Playing sports makes it possible to improve the physical health of children and young people, to learn values, to become more aware of healthy lifestyles, to boost self-esteem and better behaviour, both on and off the pitch. The combination of clear limits and a climate of trust enable the participants to learn and grow.
The aims are:
- To convey the values associated with the sport to encourage a change in attitude;
- To promote the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities;
- To convey healthy habits to children and young people;
- To promote gender equality;
- To offer an experience of empowerment to children and young people;
- To connect the hosting and the hosted community;
- To offer spaces for meetings, dialogue, and exchange to promote cohesion and social inclusion.
The methodology is based on 5 life values that are necessary for both sports and life:
- Humility
- Effort
- Ambition
- Respect
- Teamwork
The programme is being run by coordinators and coaches, who are either locals or have a refugee background. On average there are 11 staff members and community volunteers on the ground, trained to contact the sessions.
In 2022 nearly 500 children participated in SportNet, where 43.6% were girls. The participants either reside in RIC Lesvos camp, in the Unaccompanied Minors’ shelters or in Moria village and the area around that. The sessions were offered outside the camp, in a safe space, where they could get distracted from their daily routines or camp life.
In the same year, 15 community volunteers from the camp were trained to lead the sessions and involved in the programme as coaches,, while being empowered and earning skills useful for their future (organising skills, translating skills, reporting, etc).
For certain events families were invited, so that parents and children could play together. Further, several sessions were organised for kids from the hosting and the hosted communities where they got to socialise with each other and build bridges between them.
Sports help improve mental health and make positive changes in children and youth. In environments such as camps, the need for physical exercise that can reduce stress is essential.
Offering a safe space for all children, and making sure girls feel comfortable and welcome is also quite important. Sports sessions are a moment not only to play but also to create dialogue and critical thinking. Consistently attending sports sessions can motivate many positive improvements to a participant, but also to their family and eventually, the wider community.
Creating bonds with the community and the participants’ families is important to create trust. The family should feel free to share any worries about their children so both they and the educators can work towards solutions.
Furthermore, sports teach discipline, encourage self-development and promote the importance of education. Most participants who attended sports were also registered in public schools or NFE activities. Nonetheless, there are less active kids- mostly teenagers- that hesitate to participate in any programme or lack interest and enthusiasm, and they should not be forgotten. There should always be an effort from the programmes’ facilitators to find and support those kids.
Konstantina Vougioukalou, Sports Coordinator
+30 697 8579 110
sports@movementontheground.com