Lighthouse Relief initially provided emergency shoreline response on the north coast of Lesvos, Greece, but more recently has been delivering sports coaching for children living in refugee camps north of Athens.
Our sports coaching promotes the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children seeking asylum in Greece….children who have escaped war and persecution in their country of birth, and who continue to experience physical and structural violence within refugee camps.
Working with coaches trained in a trauma-informed approach, we run our sports sessions outside the camps, providing a safe space – and equipping children with the skills required to be resilient in the face of violence, helping them maintain confidence, happiness, and self-worth despite uncertainty. Based on a framework of empowerment through sport, our programmes teach emotional regulation, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We closely involve the children in both the design and implementation of the sessions, promoting agency and empowerment.
Our programmes are attended by children from a wide range of communities, and we specifically focus on involving a high number of girls in our sessions. Social cohesion and cross-community integration are critical objectives.
