World Refugee Day 2025: Olubunmi’s story of healing and hope in Madrid

Brothers Genesis and Great Sopeju – who left Nigeria for Spain three years ago – have shown determination, tenacity and perseverance in the face of life’s challenges. When you meet their mother, Olubunmi, a woman of character, warmth and deep strength, you see immediately where this resilient spirit comes from. Earlier this week, Olubunmi took the time to share her family’s story and how they have all found solace and support in the world of Special Olympics and the Unified with Refugees programme. She spoke to us from the International Protection Reception Center of Alcobendas (Centro de Acogida de Protección Internacional de Alcobendas (CAPI)) which supports the Sopeju family and other refugees.

“He cannot understand everything that is said but he understands music!”

Olubunmi speaks with pride about the achievements of her boys, and indeed her own personal development, over the past three years. She says, “Genesis is now 16 years old. He just loves everyone around him – and has been like that since he was a baby.” Although Genesis cannot speak and has limited movement due to his disability, he can very effectively communicate with his family – and the world – through music and dance.  Olubunmi says, “His main passions are music and dance. Any sound he hears, he tries to move his body in a rhythmic style. He cannot comprehend everything that people say to him but he understands, and can identify, music. As soon as he hears music playing, he shows us that he loves it. He smiles and laughs.”

Music offers healing and comfort to Genesis. Olubunmi says, “When Genesis is not very happy, he cannot express himself but I read his emotions, I read him as a mother. When I don’t know what to do, I start to play music and sing. He will then stretch out his hands to hug – music is healing for him.” 

“We felt so happy to be playing together”

For Olubunmi’s other son, Great aged 13 years old, sport is his passion. “Great’s interest in sport developed when we attended our first Special Olympics event [in 2023]. He started training in basketball. I joined him on court for our second Special Olympics tournament. We both felt so happy to be playing together.” 

This Special Olympics Spain event and the others that Olubunmi, Great and Genesis have competed in are part of the Unified with Refugees programme that brings inclusive sports and related services to athletes with intellectual disabilities and refugees alike with the aim of driving inclusive development. 

Just as music offers healing to Genesis, sport has a restorative power for Great. Olubunmi continues, “Great found it very difficult to make friends. He had been alone with his brother for a long time. The social worker at the refugee centre encouraged me to enrol him in a sport and it has had a very positive impact. He started making friends with his team. He meets different kinds of people and is able to be interact with others in his age group. His attitude towards others socially is much better than before. Before he was all alone – he has changed. I’m so grateful that sport has brought this positive impact in his life.” 

Competing in Special Olympics events has also brought Olubunmi herself a sense of fulfilment and personal satisfaction. She says, “I see it as a way for me to show my own skills too. I have a son with disabilities who needs my attention all of the time. Out on the field, I have an opportunity to show my sporting skills. If not, I wouldn’t even know that I can run and play the way that I do. Without Special Olympics, we wouldn’t have even tried to practice or compete with others like this.”

“I can imagine a future for my son”

Attending events organised by Special Olympics Spain has also given her a glimpse into a hopeful and fulfilling future for Genesis. Olubunmi says, “At Special Olympics, I saw some grown up people with special needs. Now, I can imagine my son grown up and doing what these people are doing. If not for Special Olympics, I wouldn’t even try to take Genesis out – how would he cope? At Special Olympics, he was able to participate in sports.” 

Although the family faces many challenges – the main one being the search for appropriate and comfortable accommodation – Olubunmi has high hopes for the future. “My hope for Genesis is that he will be able stand on his feet to run and compete in his choice of sport. He will improve gradually. For Great, I know he wants to try a variety of sports and he might pick one and make good use of it. He might even become famous through sport.” 

As a woman of considerable ability and vision, it’s no surprise that Olubunmi has ambitions for her own future. She is currently engaged in courses and searching for jobs. She concludes “My hope is to live a better life in the future. I will be using my energy to care for Genesis but I would also like a job. I already have skills in farming and agriculture but I will add more skills which will help me in the future.”

Olubunmi, Genesis and Great are celebrating World Refugee Day today by competing in a Unified with Refugees tournament organised by Special Olympics Spain, hosted by the International Protection Reception Centre of Alcobendas (Centro de Acogida de Protección Internacional de Alcobendas (CAPI)) in Madrid and supported by international partners of the initiative, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and ESPN as well as local and national partners.