Facing the fear of water: Refugees learn to swim in Lesbos

YSR has its roots successful swimming, explains Estelle Jean, nan organisation’s laminitis and executive director. “In 2016, thousands of people were coming by nan sea, particularly successful nan bluish portion of nan island, wherever nan Turkish statement is only 12 km [7.5 miles] away. Rescue teams had formed spontaneously.”

The business led to nan commencement of nan swimming programme successful Lesbos successful 2017, she explains. The purpose was to thatch swimming but besides supply an opportunity to some rescuers and those who crossed nan oversea to reconnect pinch it, particularly aft a traumatic experience.

YSR officially started successful 2018 and now operates successful 4 locations, pinch nan different 3 successful Ioannina, Athens and Paris, France. In Lesbos, they clasp regular swimming classes from May until October, upwind permitting, which are unfastened to men and women (including women-only classes). Each group has astatine slightest 1 coach who cautiously monitors nan students.

Mitali Desai teaches Hossein* really to float by having him dishonesty connected his backmost successful nan water. [Giacomo Sini/Al Jazeera]

“Day by day, they are improving,” says Sara Balamurugan, a unpaid coach from France. Three younger students practise limb movements connected nan shore, while 2 first-timers practise floating successful nan water. Meanwhile, 2 precocious students spell further retired into nan oversea pinch different instructor.

Salah comes backmost to nan statement doing nan butterfly stroke, raising his caput and arms pinch each 2 limb kicks. Luiza Lena Benz, a swimming coach, tells him he needs to correct his manus positioning and demonstrates nan correct method. Salah listens attentively, past sits connected nan statement for a rest.

“I emotion swimming,” Salah says smiling. “I'm rather good, you know. I tin aquatics there,” he says, pointing to nan bluish mountains beyond nan sea. “I came from Turkiye swimming,” he continues, his reside becoming much serious. “It took six hours. It has been hard, but I had a float helping me.”