Movement
Changes
Everything
MiR is a global movement of athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts bringing play, hope, and positive inspiration to displaced youth through sports and exercise.
Why We're Here
Imagine growing up without space to run, play, practice with your friends, or move freely. MiR brings sport to young people displaced by crisis — reigniting hope, joy, and self-worth. From coaches in refugee camps to global athletes standing in solidarity, we believe movement is more than sport — it’s a lifeline.
MIR in motion
122 mil
People around the world were forcibly displaced by conflict, violence, and persecution. (UNHCR)
340,000
children between the ages of 5 and 17 across the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
99%
don’t have access to organised sports activities and coaching
71%
of these displaced individuals are hosted in low- and middle-income countries
Powered by People Who Love to Move
“MiR is a global movement, powered by people who know the power of sport. Whether you compete, coach, stretch at sunrise, or cheer from the sidelines, your movement matters. It brings strength, hope, and healing to young people displaced by crisis.”
Programs
MIR coaches are working with 64 children and young people across eight communities in two refugee camps. Each group trains twice a week for 2.5 hours.
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Sessions with girls and women are held inside family shelters – which are not ideal, but this is the reality and the most people live in. While we aim to expand into larger facilities one day, we know that for now, we must bring movement to them, where they are in or near their homes. We believe that once we establish a workable training programme in these small spaces we can roll it out to reach many many more girls.
Each session begins with calm and grounding—settling in, meditation, warmups, then building strength and flexibility through basic yoga and movement exercises. Then comes the fun: spikeball (also known as roundnet). It’s fast, social, and builds confidence, team-work and coordination. We're working toward a future where women and girls can compete in their own league—cheered on by their peers.
The impact is clear: women report better sleep, less pain, and new strength in their bodies. Parents tell us there’s nothing else like it.
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Our work with boys and young men begins with the fundamentals: building physical capacity through structured, progressive training. In the dense, crowded camps, space is limited—so we focus on sports like volleyball, spikeball, and the local game of chalong, which thrive in smaller environments.
Each session develops essential athletic competencies: flexibility, balance, upper and lower body strength, core stability, and stamina. These foundations matter. They’re the building blocks of athletic excellence—and of a strong, healthy life.
Over time, we aim to guide our students from beginners to competitive athletes. That means bringing in skilled coaches—from both local and international leagues—to lead advanced skills sessions, inspire ambition, and raise the level of play. Our vision is to form high-performing teams that can compete, represent, and grow.
But it’s about more than sport. Our coaches are also mentors—role models who help shape character, dignity, and purpose. At the end of each session, we take time to talk, reflect, and connect—building a culture of respect, resilience, and leadership. Monthly themes will explore topics like reducing violence against women and girls, resolving conflict, and leading within the community.
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Stretching south from the city of Cox’s Bazar to the Naf River at the Myanmar border lies a beautiful but under-resourced coastline, home to dozens of fishing villages and informal settlements. Here, poverty is widespread, school dropout rates are high, and child marriage remains common for girls.
But one of the most silent and devastating threats is drowning.
According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under five in Bangladesh. Along this stretch of coast, drowning incidents occur regularly—yet most go unreported. Lifeguard coverage is limited to a short section of tourist beach, leaving entire communities without basic water safety protection, first aid training, or structured swim education. We're working to change that.
Get Involved
Help bring sport, hope, and healing to displaced youth around the world.
Support with a monthly donation, follow us on social media, and share our stories in your community. Sign up for our newsletter, or reach out with ideas, we’re building this movement together.