Reclaiming the sea

Written by Louiza Bendz, intern and volunteer at Yoga and Sports with Refugees; Estelle Jean, founder at Yoga and Sports with Refugees; and Donal Cotter, communications manager at Yoga and Sports with Refugees 

For many, the sea represents freedom, adventure, or a simple escape. But for displaced women, the sea can hold far more complicated emotions—fear, trauma, and uncertainty. In Lesvos, a Greek island off the coast of Turkey, a group of women is rewriting this narrative, reclaiming the sea as a space of empowerment, joy, and resilience during weekly swimming lessons.

Yoga and Sports with Refugees operates with a tiny annual budget, relying on equipment donations to continue running classes. © YSR

A swimmer surveys the scene during YSR’s annual awareness event Swim for Good, which it runs in partnership with the Yusra Mardini Foundation. © YSR

The women of the water 

Among the waves of Lesvos, a quiet revolution takes place each week. Women, many of whom have never swum before, wade into the Mediterranean’s embrace, guided by patient instructors and the infectious encouragement of their peers.

These women come from Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen—places where social and cultural norms have often kept them from learning to swim. Through the swimming program offered by Yoga and Sports with Refugees (YSR), they are not only learning a vital skill but also rediscovering their strength. Within the camp, news about YSR spreads mostly via word-of-mouth; new faces appear at the gym all the time, replacing others who vanish almost overnight. Lesvos is a place of change. A pit stop, not a destination.  

There's a striking contrast between YSR's swim classes for men and women. While men often arrive with at least some knowledge of how to swim, many women enter the water for the first time. They hesitate, holding hands for comfort and reassurance. Yet, what they lack in experience, they make up for in enthusiasm.

Nervous laughter echoes across the shore, quickly transforming into shouts of triumph as a woman swims on her own for the first time. "My sister! Look!" she exclaims, beaming with pride. 

Healing through water 

Maryam, one YSR swim student, gives us some insight into this terrifying relationship with the sea: “I was afraid of water. Thanks to your course, I learned to swim. It is an incredible feeling.” Crossing from Turkey to Greece in overloaded boats, often at night, is a journey of desperation. Now, through these swim classes, the sea is becoming something else—a source of confidence rather than fear. Fereshte, another YSR swim student, shares: “Swimming is the best way to eliminate the stress that we carry from our journey or in our life. I learned swimming from your classes, and it gives me a lot of confidence.”  

Some older women, initially reluctant to enter the water, gradually ease into floating, their hands gripping those of their instructors. While some remain content to stay near the shore, others push themselves further, diving, splashing, laughing. The presence of female instructors, many of whom are young women themselves, fosters a camaraderie that allows for a unique kind of trust and encouragement. This support facilitates profound transformations among women of all ages and abilities, creating a unique community by the sea. 

Yusra Mardini, Sven Spannekrebs and the YSR team spreading love through sport on Lesvos! © YSR

Swim for Good participants celebrating success despite a windy day and turbulent waters. © YSR

A community effort 

YSR has adapted its swim program, understanding the obstacles women face in attending lessons, such as household duties, childcare, and cultural hesitations. Classes now include spaces for young girls, allowing mothers to learn alongside their daughters. Little hands paddle eagerly, and the pride in their mothers’ eyes is unmistakable. In these moments, the generational impact of the program becomes clear: these women are not just learning to swim; they are rewriting the future for their daughters. 

YSR’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond the shoreline. Swim skirts, burkinis, and other modest swimwear options ensure that cultural considerations are respected. The goal is simple: to make the water accessible to all, regardless of background or experience. 

Swimming for a cause 

Beyond the weekly classes, YSR partnered with the Yusra Mardini Foundation for the first-ever joint “Swim for Good” event. Yusra Mardini, a former refugee and Olympic swimmer, once saved lives by pushing a sinking boat to safety. Returning to the water for this event was an emotional milestone for her, as well as for many displaced individuals who participated. Alongside Yusra, YSR coaches and students completed a 12-kilometer relay swim—a symbolic and physical reclaiming of the sea. 

This collaboration highlighted the deeper mission behind these lessons: they are not just about swimming, they are about transformation.

For displaced women, stepping into the water means stepping into a new chapter—one where they are strong, capable, and unafraid. 

Yusra Mardini and YSR Lesvos manager Katerina, swimming together for a better future. © YSR

Carrying the ocean forward 

As summer fades and volunteers depart, the lessons learned in these waters remain. This island is a temporary home for them, and while some may remain as coaches for future students, many will go on to settle elsewhere in Greece or Europe. However, the confidence gained does not disappear with the waves; it travels with these women, strengthening them for whatever comes next. 

For those who once saw the sea as an obstacle, it is now a source of power. And in each ripple, there is a story of resilience, sisterhood, and hope—proof that water can heal, and women can reclaim it as their own. 

Swim for Good participants brave the open sea, challenging the fear that water often represents for displaced peoples. © YSR