Lochgilphead student shares experience of volunteering in refugee camp
A 21-year-old Lochgilphead student has been helping to support refugees in Lesvos, Greece, after “deciding to do something worthwhile” with his summer.
Michael McCurry completed a five-week stint of volunteering with the charity Yoga and Sport with Refugees this week, and was flying home yesterday (Thursday).
Lesvos has the highest number of refugees of any Mediterranean island and is usually the first stop off for asylum seekers’ on their journey in Europe.
Yoga and Sports gives refugees who have experienced such hardships a chance to escape, forget some of their worries and enjoy playing sport.
The charity offers lots of activities, including football, swimming, boxing, climbing, self- defence and more.
Michael helped out with a beach clean - 18 big bags of rubbish were collected.
Michael specialises in football and has been coaching five times a week. He did offer to teach his students shinty, but it was decided football was more appropriate.
Yoga and Sports was founded in 2017, supporting the large Moria refugee camp on Lesvos, infamous for its inhumane conditions. Not long after, the camp was burned down under suspicious circumstances.
A new camp, Kara Tepe refugee camp, has been established at Mytiline with notably improved conditions, housing 6,000 people. Since then, Yoga and Sports in Lesvos has expanded and a new gym created.
Michael’s days there have consisted of helping around the gym, handing out food and coaching.
Michael gathered 50 sea urchins himself.
He said: “The students we help come from a variety of backgrounds, with 60 per cent from Afghan origins, with lately there being an influx in people from, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, and Palestine.
“One student jokingly told me that their hardest experience so far is understanding my Scottish accent.
“Yoga and Sports are an independent Non Governmental Organisation, with funding coming from fundraisers, donations and the help of other NGOs.
“Whilst the majority of the time I see the students they are happy and friendly, it cannot be forgotten the experiences they have gone through, many have new identities, many don’t know what family they have left, if they will see their homes again, so it is imperative that the work we do is as efficient as possible to create a sense of community and safety throughout this trying time.
“The experience has been so special to me, very challenging at times, but truly priceless experiences.”
Since Michael started coaching there, one of his students has played for the Palestine national team, and another for the Afghanistan national team. He is immensely proud to have coached them.
He has also organised a volleyball tournament, taken part in a beach clean and helped clear the sea from overpopulated sea urchins.
Volunteer and coaches enjoy and evening of international food, with Michael showing off the tattoo he was dared to get.
Fortunately unscathed, although covered in broken glass, he was involved in a crash in the organisation’s van.
The van was used for supplies and transporting students between the gym and the camp, so the need for a new one has never been greater.
Michael has sent out a plea for people to help in any way they can.
He said: “The experience will last all my life, and I already have plans to come back, I just love it.”
The former Lochgilphead High School student studied environmental geography and outdoor education at Stirling and has been accepted for a post grad in secondary teaching of geography at Strathclyde University.
A big Celtic fan, he was disappointed to miss the arrival, just as he was leaving, of 15 Celtic tops donated by The Eddie Duffy No1 CSC.
Michael’s mum Karen and dad Brian recently completed the Glasgow Kiltwalk for the MS Centre in Lochgilphead, where Karen is the manager.
His twin sister Rebecca has recently completed her honours year at university in Glasgow.
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