Between July and December 2017 over 100 refugees and asylum seekers living in Warsaw will benefit from a new project that aims to promote health-enhancing physical activities among these communities, their empowerment and sense of belonging.

A range of free sporting activities will be provided as part of the project, including mixed martial arts sessions for men over 16 years old, football for children and youth aged between 4-7 and 8-14 years old, and swimming lessons for girls and women.

RESQUE - Refugees & Empowerment & Sport & Qualifications & Union & Europe is a pilot project co-financed by the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture, as part of the "Promoting HEPA policy measures and actions for refugees" programme, as well as the United States Embassy in Warsaw and Bank Zachodni WBK Foundation.

It will be led by the Association for Democracy in Sports in partnership with the football club AKS Zły, Fundacja Ocalenie and the Fare member Etnoliga.

Justyna Frydrych of Fundacja Ocalenie said: "We care about the integration of these groups. We want these classes to be inclusive and to encourage local communities to interact with refugees who are newcomers or who have been living here for years."

The project will also see sports events be held throughout the pilot year to further the exchanges between refugees and local communities.