Greece - 2019
In collaboration with
Dr. Sanaz Yaghmai and Refugym
In close collaboration with Dr Sanaz Yaghmai and Refugym, we delivered our first-ever, Farsi language training for six Afghan women in the Malakasa refugee camp outside of Athens. Refugym is a community-based project operating inside the camp that is run by refugees for refugees; after the training, a wonderful woman from the community, Zahra, took over facilitating practices and leading community circles.
Founded in 2017, Refugym operates at the Malakasa refugee camp in Greece offering exercise programming to the Afghan community. Refugym was created in an effort to address the boredom and stagnation that arises within refugee camps.
With ample research showing the positive impact of exercise on mental health Refugym provides refugees the opportunity to exercise, release feel-good endorphins, and simply have some fun! One of Refugym’s fundamental objectives is to empower refugees to run the sports/exercise programming themselves, creating a community-led initiative within the camp and therefore a sustainable project. Sports leaders utilise their skills to meet the needs of their own community through a safe and structured sports programme.
Refugym currently has 11 refugees running their programming! With an incredibly varied timetable, from self-defence and Taikwondo to football, Kung-Fu and swimming, the Ompowerment collaboration will further enhance the community's strengthening efforts.
London — 2019
In collaboration with
Yoganest and St. Margaret’s House
In July 2019 we were honoured to offer our first London-based training .For six days, spread over two weeks, we met with refugees and asylum seekers at the Yoagnest in East London, hosted by St. Margaret’s House.
During our first London-based training we were indescribably inspired by all of the beautiful humans who have made the choice to show up each day. Special thanks to @everythingisimagined for documenting their process and to @stmargaretsldn For allowing us to use their beautiful space.
“I feel more centered, more calm, and more decisive. The other day, I was having a hard time because my mind was racing and I only had to make one simple decision but it felt so stressful. So I practiced power pose for a few minutes and it helped me to ground, find my center, calm my thoughts, and make a choice. ”
Greece — 2018
In collaboration with
Lifting Hands International
In September, we returned to Northern Greece to run our second OMPowerment teacher training in the country.
For this training, we were incredibly excited to partner with Lifting Hands International and work with the Yazidi community in Serres, outside of Thessaloniki.
A record number of 25 young women aged 13-37 participated in the training, each one passionate and committed.
“(Yoga is) Good for mind. When you do yoga, you forget about all your problems. It is also good for your body....It is also good for our health. It also helps me to sleep. If we have a problem in the mind, it goes away. All Yazidis have problems in the mind.”
Norway — 2018
In collaboration with
Yogano
Our November 2018 training with refugees from the Ulsteinvik community off Norway's Western Coast was our first ever multi-ethnic group, including men and women from Syria, Iran, and Eritrea.
The only language our trainees had in common is Norwegian due to government programs to teach the language as part of integration efforts. So, for the first time ever, training was offered in a third language in an effort to bring the diverse community together Special thanks to local yoga studio Yogano, who graciously offered us their beautiful space for the training.
“I can tell that you no longer worry so much, you don’t seem as tired and depressed as you used to. To me, it seems like your health has improved and that your happier.”
Greece — 2017
Our first Training
Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
Our work in Greece in 2017 launched our pilot project, our intention to create a safer space, free from labels and judgement in which we are free to breath, to move, and to connect to ourselves.
Every day, five to eight refugees joined us for trauma informed asana practice. After practice, five stayed on to train to become facilitators of this healing practice in their community. The trainees were a mix of Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish.
“The more we break down these movements in the workshops, the more I understand them in my body...so the yoga becomes not just about my body but also about my mind and the connection between my body and mind.”