Ritsona, with 2,000 inhabitants, remains the largest refugee camp on mainland Greece. Its residents endure inadequate healthcare, sanitation, and food. The camp's prison-like atmosphere and remote location heighten their sense of loneliness and anxiety while cutting them off from public transportation, hospitals, and 'normal life'. Lighthouse Relief provides psychosocial support through its award-winning project Score4TheFuture, which uses sports to help children overcome trauma and flourish.
Living in Ritsona camp breeds boredom, loneliness, and a sense of hopelessness. It can also exacerbate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in children and adolescents. Many have endured traumatic experiences in their homelands and continue to suffer from exposure to violence, marginalisation, and lack of development opportunities. Poor nutrition, limited access to clean water, inadequate hygiene, and a monotonous existence take a toll on their mental and physical well-being.
It uses the universal language of sports to foster personal growth and development and imparts valuable life skills such as conflict resolution, respect for social norms, regulating negative emotions, and teamwork. It also promotes gender equality, mutual respect, and community cohesion. Regular interaction with local peers through the participation of Greek sports clubs in football tournaments and joint practice sessions is a crucial feature that eases refugee integration.
The project empowers 400 young people per year to overcome social exclusion and thrive despite challenging circumstances. Over the long term, it addresses the interconnected psychological factors and social factors that typically undermine refugees' well-being. Its impact has been recognized by the International Peace and Sports Forum, which honoured us with the 2024 "Empowerment through Sports" award.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
