After a long seven months’ of lockdown restrictions here in Athens, as of last month we were able to start our public sessions again! Although we’ve been keeping ourselves busy during this time, with our ongoing partnership with the Mum Institute and collaboration with artist Eloise Dörr. This is the moment we’ve really been waiting for!
Our new partnership is a very special one. It is with a wonderful organisation that we’ve had our eyes on for a while, appreciating the important work they do here in Athens and on a global scale. Safe Place International work with refugees from the LGBTQIA+ community and women who are single parents. They run various projects including direct aid initiatives, safe housing and advocacy. Our partnership is with their Athens-based Community Center, which acts as a safe place for displaced communities whilst enhancing a feeling of family, support, and inclusion.
We held our first workshop with Safe Place Community Center on the 10th of June. In this session we taught the basics of balancing on the board, pushing, stopping and turning. Pictured above is our Co-Founder Will running the pre-session warm-up, which incorporates a mindful yoga practice to create a calm learning environment. Below, you will see Will demonstrating his infamous ‘one-two’three/ένα-δύο-τρία’ technique for teaching how to get your feet and body into the right position on the board.
The nationwide lockdown was imposed in Greece in November 2020, meaning we had to pause all of our public sessions. Coupled with the isolation and boredom brought on by the lockdown, the lack of access to meaningful activities and exercise can be extremely detrimental to one’s mental health. Our public sessions give people the opportunity to regularly participate in fun, expressive and stimulating exercise. As well as socialising with like-minded people in a safe and supportive environment. This can have a tremendously positive effect on overall mental health and wellbeing.
As a Safe Place Community Center volunteer told us at the end of last week’s session, “I have never seen some of these guys smile so much.”
“Coming out of lockdown, the Free Movement Skateboarding sessions have been an amazing opportunity to reconnect as a community and also build some memorable moments while learning new skills. Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and we’re grateful to Free Movement Skateboarding for providing the opportunity to engage in these sessions. Something so fun that was once unobtainable is now accessible to a group that would not normally experience skateboarding. These sessions have become a community favorite and we look forward to many more!”
Matt Bartek, Project Coordinator at Safe Place Community Center
Words: Ruby Mateja
Photographs: Courtesy of Safe Place Community Center
Safe Place Community Center is centrally located in Athens and provides a warm inclusive family atmosphere of motivation and support to all migrant and refugee communities. The Community Center offers language courses, job training, psychosocial workshops, hot meals, showers, and laundry facilities. The center is supported by trained staff of caseworkers and volunteers. Many of the community center members are part of the Athens Housing Collective project and many of those who are not, are on the Athens Housing Collective waiting list. This is a result of a lack of housing solutions and safe housing for the LGBTQIA+ community.
You can follow them on Instagram – @safeplaceGR
And Facebook – Safe Place International
CLICK HERE to read our previous blog post about skateboarding and neuroscience!
