Yoga and Sport with Refugees

What Yoga and Sport with Refugees does

Yoga and Sport with Refugees (YSR) is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 by humanitarian worker and former competitive athlete Estelle Jean. Headquartered in Athens, Greece, and legally registered as an Association Loi 1901 in France (#W335003712) with a secondary Greek entity (Αφμ 996655748), YSR delivers free sports programs — including yoga, parkour, basketball, volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, taekwondo, climbing, football, running, Muay Thai, kickboxing, swimming, and dance — to displaced persons and refugees in Lesvos and Athens (Greece) and Paris (France). A fourth Ioannina project has been wound down. The organization trains displaced persons as community coaches, currently numbering 30+, who lead sessions alongside international volunteers and local participants to deliver an intentionally diverse, integration-focused experience.

YSR's technology footprint is minimal: a WordPress website with WooCommerce integration for merchandise sales, plus a GlobalGiving integration for tax-efficient donor-advised fund contributions. There are no proprietary software products, no mobile applications, and no AI/ML components described in available sources. Operations are coordinated manually across three sites by project managers (Katerina in Lesvos, Malamati in Athens, Estelle/Lola/Rahmat/Yadullah in Paris) and supported by a board chaired by Nina de Winter, with functional staff covering finance, fundraising, M&E, communications, and HR.

The business model is donation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams include recurring monthly donations (€20, €50, €100, €250), one-time donations via the website and GlobalGiving, merchandise sales (BREAK BORDERS apparel and accessories, €10–€64), and proceeds from annual events (Global Run, Fitness Marathon, Lesvathlon, Swim for Good). Stated monthly operating costs are approximately €20,000, comprising €2,000 for gym rent and maintenance and €4,000 for coach stipends across 30+ community coaches. Programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no fees charged for participation.

Name

Yoga and Sport with Refugees

Legal name

Yoga and Sports with Refugees

Website

https://yogasportwithrefugees.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yoga and Sport with Refugees is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 that delivers free sports and yoga programs to displaced persons and refugees across Lesvos, Athens, and Paris, training community members as coaches and funding operations through donations, merchandise sales, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Sports Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Fitness / Cross-Training Groups (HSADABAH), Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Sports development programs
• Refugee community services
• Nonprofit sports programs
• Community integration programs
• Donation-based programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: YSR is primarily funded by private donations. Monthly recurring donations (€20, €50, €100, €250) and one-time donations are accepted via the website. Additionally, donations can be made through donor-advised funds via GlobalGiving.
2. Merchandise Sales: YSR sells branded merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, hats, beanies, mugs, and wall calendars through their WooCommerce online shop. Prices range from €10 to €64.
3. Organized Events: YSR organizes fundraising events including Global Run, Fitness Marathon, Lesvathlon, and Swim for Good, which serve as both awareness-building and fundraising mechanisms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yoga and Sport with Refugees (YSR) delivers free sports and yoga programs to displaced persons and refugees through gym facilities in Lesvos, Athens, and Paris. Activities include yoga, parkour, basketball, volleyball, boxing, taekwondo, climbing, football, running, kickboxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, swimming, and dance, led by a team of 30+ community coaches, many of whom are themselves from displaced populations. The organization funds operations through private donations, recurring monthly contributions, branded merchandise sales, and community events.

Product overview

Yoga and Sport with Refugees (YSR) operates as a sports-for-development nonprofit organization offering community sports programs across Lesvos, Athens, Paris, and Ioannina (former project). The organization provides sports activities including yoga, parkour, basketball, volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, Taekwondo, climbing, football, running, Muay Thai, kickboxing, swimming, and dance. YSR's revenue model combines donation programs (monthly and one-time) with merchandise sales through their WooCommerce-powered online shop. The merchandise line branded under 'BREAK BORDERS' includes apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, beanies, hats) and accessories (mugs, wall calendars), sold to support their mission of using sport to build happier and healthier refugee communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Programs (Lesvos, Athens, Paris) Free community sports and yoga programs covering yoga, parkour, basketball, volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, Taekwondo, climbing, football, running, Muay Thai, kickboxing, swimming, and dance, delivered at on-ground gym facilities to displaced persons, refugees, local community members, and international volunteers across Lesvos, Athens, and Paris.
• Donation Programs Subscription-style monthly donation tiers (€20, €50, €100, €250 or custom amounts) and one-time donation options supporting YSR's operational costs including gym rent (~€2,000/month), coach salaries (~€4,000/month for 30+ community coaches), and program supplies. Donations also accepted through donor-advised funds via GlobalGiving for tax-efficient international giving.
• BREAK BORDERS Merchandise Branded merchandise sold via the YSR WooCommerce online shop to fund free sports programs. The product line includes BREAK BORDERS white and eco hoodies (€58-€64), organic cotton t-shirts (€30), embroidered and classic dad hats in multiple colors (€25), beanies (from €10), glossy white mugs (€10), and the Original Artwork YSR 2026 Wall Calendar (€17.99). All prices plus VAT.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free sports programs provided to displaced persons in Greece and France
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GlobalGivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYSR accepts donations through GlobalGiving's donor-advised funds platform, allowing supporters to designate contributions with the organization and/or specific project ID numbers. This enables tax-efficient giving for international donors.
• Common GoalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNil Delahaye, a YSR Board member, serves as the Safeguarding Lead of Common Goal in Berlin. Common Goal is a sports activism organization focused on peacebuilding and social impact.
• BoMoVuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNil Delahaye, YSR Board member, co-founded BoMoVu, a sports activism NGO based in Istanbul focused on peacebuilding through sport.
• AntetokounBros AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYSR coach Hooman was educated for 3 years as a basketball coach in AntetokounBros Academy, suggesting a training or program partnership for basketball coaching.
• VidMob GivesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVidMob Gives, the 501(c)3 arm of VidMob, has supported YSR by providing video marketing tools and production support through their nonprofit amplification program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Football Welcomes: UK-based initiative connecting refugee and asylum-seeker communities through football, led by British Red Cross and partners. Similar sport-for-refugee-integration mission but geographically distinct (UK vs. Greece/France).

Direct peers

• Skateistan: Uses skateboarding and education to empower displaced and at-risk youth across multiple countries (Afghanistan, Cambodia, South Africa, Jordan). Comparable to YSR in combining sport instruction with refugee-focused social impact and multi-country delivery.
• Sport dans la Ville: French sports-based inclusion nonprofit operating in France with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, including refugees. Same geographic footprint (France) and similar sport-as-integration model as YSR Paris.
• Coaches Across Continents: Implements sport-for-social-impact programs in underserved communities globally, with a strong focus on coach training and curriculum. Directly comparable methodology to YSR's refugee-to-coach pipeline approach.
• Habibi and Sport with Refugees: A refugee sports NGO providing free sports and yoga programs to displaced people in Greece. Closely comparable to YSR in mission, programming, and target population; YSR's finance manager Emily Forbes previously worked as coordinator there.
• PeacePlayers International: Uses basketball to unite divided communities and empower youth in conflict-affected regions including Northern Ireland, Middle East, and South Africa. Comparable sport-as-bridge model addressing displacement and division.
• Soccer Without Borders: Uses soccer as a vehicle for refugee and newcomer youth integration in the US and abroad. Directly comparable mission of sport-based refugee integration with mentorship and leadership components.

Broad incumbents

• Right to Play: Global NGO using sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity in 15+ countries. Broader in scope than YSR but addresses the same sports-for-development/refugee segment.
• Generation Amazing: Qatar Foundation initiative using football to deliver development programs for displaced and marginalized youth globally. Comparable sport-for-development scope with much larger institutional backing.

Others

• Common Goal: Global sports activism movement linking football professionals with social impact organizations including refugee-serving NGOs. Directly connected to YSR via board member Nil Delahaye; functions as an ecosystem partner and potential funding conduit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoga-and-sport-with-refugees
• Instagraminstagram.com/yogasportwithrefugees
• Facebookfacebook.com/yogasportwithrefugees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yoga and Sport with Refugees