Our Mission


The Yusra Mardini Foundation is dedicated to advancing access to sports and education for refugee communities around the world, as well as directly supporting refugee athletes by providing them with the opportunities, resources, and networks necessary to excel in sports and rebuild their lives. We believe in the transformative power of sport to transcend borders, bridge cultural divides, and inspire hope. By leveraging the unifying force of sports, the Foundation strives to promote inclusivity, foster integration, and advocate for the rights of refugees to shape a more peaceful and equitable world for everyone.

Our Projects

Swimming Classes on Lesvos (Greece)

12. September 2024
On Lesbos, we support the Yoga and Sport with Refugees (YSR) swimming program. Together, we offer refugees the opportunity to learn to swim and overcome their fear of water. Many of the participants have fled across the Mediterranean to Europe and have had traumatic experiences with water. The program helps them to reconcile with the sea and learn a vital skill. The swimming courses take place in the Mediterranean Sea off Mytilini and are led by experienced coaches. By swimming, the participants not only improve their physical health, but also their self-confidence and social integration. The program promotes intercultural exchange and creates a supportive environment in which participants feel safe and welcome. We support YSR with the implementation and financial resources. Our Board Member Sven Spannekrebs has contributed his experience as a swimming coach on site as a voluntary helper and supported the project with further coaching of coaches and with the training sessions for weeks. 

Swimming and Sport Projects in Perpignan (France)

15. Juli 2024
The Yusra Mardini Foundation supports the Welcome 66 swimming project in Perpignan. This project provides displaced people with swimming courses led by experienced coaches. In summer, the courses take place in the Mediterranean and in winter they are held in an indoor swimming pool. The swimming courses not only provide the participants with valuable life skills, but also boost their self-confidence and their physical and mental health. Training together creates social bonds and a sense of community, which makes integration easier. Swimming also provides a welcome distraction from the often difficult everyday life and promotes mental well-being. Our financial and strategic support of Welcome 66 helps to implement this program as well as other initiatives such as language courses, sports and cultural activities and vocational training. Our strategic partnership with Welcome 66 aims to bring about sustainable change through sport and education. The project is promoted together with our partner Oris to create hope and opportunities and shape a better future. Partners: WELCOME 66 Welcome 66 is a non-profit organization based in Perpignan that is dedicated to the social integration and professional integration of unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers and refugees. Through a variety of programs, including language courses, sporting and cultural activities and vocational training, Welcome 66 helps participants to find their feet in their new environment and lead a self-determined life. The organization promotes intercultural exchange and creates a supportive environment that strengthens social cohesion ORIS Oris is a renowned Swiss watch brand that is characterized by its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. As a climate-neutral company, Oris supports numerous charitable initiatives worldwide. In 2023, Yusra Mardini was appointed Oris Ambassador and together with the Yusra Mardini Foundation, we are working to make a positive difference. Our strategic partnership with Oris aims to create hope and opportunity through joint projects such as the swimming project in Perpignan. Oris shares our vision of a better future and supports us in achieving sustainable change through sport and education. 

Swim For Good 2024

11. Juli 2024
The international event in solidarity with displaced people "Swim For Good“ took place on June 29, 2024. Participants around the globe swam 12 km in order to draw attention to the dangerous migration journey that many displaced people have to embark on in order to find safety and security. The event was organized by Yoga and Sport with Refugees Butterfly by Yusra Mardini and the Yusra Mardini Foundation. The 12km represent the distance between Türkiye and Lesvos. This year we were thrilled to have four Olympians (Yusra Mardini, Sabine Hazboun, Jamie Yeung and Anne-Sophie Thilo) jump in the water with us, as well as the Olympic Refuge Foundation, , Bordeaux Break Borders and Copenwater.DK support the cause. The largest event took place on Lesbos, with 54 swimmers. The participation of Yusra Mardini, who returned to Lesbos for the first time since fleeing in 2015, was particularly moving. She took a dive and swam in the relay along the coast of Mytilini, beside our coaches, coordinators as well as swim students. She knows from her own experience how dangerous the crossing is for people. We are especially proud of the students from the Lesbos swim program, of which many have just learned to swim in the weeks previous to the event. The swim students themselves have crossed into Europe along that very route in the past months. It was a special day for all participants to have the chance to swim alongside Yusra Mardini and her trainer Sven Spannekrebs on Lesvos. Yusra Mardini: “The Swim For Good 2024 was very special for me. I came back to Lesvos for the first time after arriving here with my sister on our escape. Jumping back into the water here has a deep meaning for me personally. It is important not to forget that the Mediterranean is still a major escape route for many people who have to seek refuge in other countries. But it is also one of the most dangerous escape routes to Europe and unfortunately there are no safe ones in sight. Refugees are one of the most vulnerable people. So we can all do something positive if we see them as human beings. We have families and we dream of a life in peace. If you can get involved, you will surely find an organization in your area that you can support with your action or donations.” Partners: YOGA AND SPORT WITH REFUGEES (YSR) Based in France and Greece, YSR has been building happier and healthier communities by empowering people on the move through the power of sport since 2017. Its gym in Athens, Lesvos and Ioannina have become safe spaces and strong community meetings spots with over 40.000 annual athletes and over 40 coaches trained in yoga, kickboxing, bodybuilding, dance and more. Every summer, we run swimming programs, teaching many people how to swim and reconnect to water, which many become fearful of during their life-threatening journeys to Greece. BUTTERFLY BY YUSRA MARDINI E.V. (BYM) The BYM is the sister organisation in Germany, founded by Yusra Mardini and Sven Spannekrebs with friends. The Organisation is a charitable organisation that follows the goals of the Yusra Mardini Foundation in Europe and other parts of the world.

In the News


About Yusra


Born on March 5, 1998, in Damascus, Syria, Yusra Mardini grew up in a family that encouraged her passion for swimming. Training from a very young age she quickly rose to prominence as a competitive swimmer in her home country.


In 2015, as the conflict in Syria intensified, Yusra and her sister Sara fled their war-torn homeland in search of safety and a better future. They embarked on a perilous journey, crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece in a small, overcrowded dinghy. The boat's engine failed, and with the lives of everyone on board at risk, Yusra, along with Sara and another passenger, jumped into the water and pushed the boat for hours until they reached the shore, saving the lives of those aboard.


Their harrowing journey eventually led Yusra to seek refuge in Germany. Despite the challenges of being displaced and adjusting to a new country, Yusra never gave up on her dreams. She joined a local swimming club in Berlin, where her exceptional talent caught the attention of coaches and the public alike.


Yusra's swimming abilities and her incredible story captured the world's attention during the 2016 Rio Olympics. She competed as a member of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team, showcasing the strength and resilience of displaced athletes. Yusra's participation not only highlighted the plight of refugees but also served as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of sport.


Beyond her athletic achievements, Yusra Mardini has used her platform to advocate for refugees and raise awareness about their struggles. She has become a voice for millions of displaced people, emphasizing the importance of compassion, understanding, and support for those seeking refuge.


In 2017, she was appointed the youngest ever UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at age 19.  Her and Sara’s story is depicted in the 2022 Netflix film “The Swimmers.” In 2023, the Mardini sisters were named TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People In The World.


Uniting for Integration and Sports for Development

Yusra Mardini Foundation and Oris Forge a
Meaningful Partnership


The Yusra Mardini Foundation is proud to announce a significant partnership with the distinguished Swiss watch manufacturer, Oris. Together, we are committed to projects in the field of Sports for Development, with a special focus on refugees and their successful integration into host communities.

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