REFUGEE RUNNING PROGRAM EXPANDS IN IRELAND

February 8, 2019

The Sanctuary Runners, which launched a year ago in Cork City, Ireland, enables Irish People to run alongside, and in solidarity with, refugees and asylum seekers. The program fosters friendship, positivity and respect while bringing greater awareness to the system in which asylum seekers live. 

Following a successful pilot year, the program has already expanded into three new cities across Ireland, with plans to expand internationally into communities with high refugee populations. 

The non-profit organisation is run solely by volunteers and uses sport, and running in particular, to build bridges between communities and to show that “we are all equal.”

The Sanctuary Runners was established by journalist and broadcaster Graham Clifford and photographer Clare Keogh. With the support of Cork City Council and The Tomar Trust, the group sent a team of 200 to the Cork City Marathon on 3rd June which included 51-people from across the five different refugee centres in Cork. The team spanned 40 nationalities.

The group has also partnered with the parkruns movement so that people in the asylum system can run with Irish people locally, thereby creating friendships, increasing awareness and enabling them to take part in regular exercise.

In addition to the programs aims of community cohesion, Sanctuary Runners raises awareness around issues for refugees and asylum seekers, highlighting the many obstacles one may face in Ireland’s “Direct Provision” asylum program. In July 2018 there were 5,611 people in 35 Direct Provision centres located across 17 counties.

The Sanctuary Runners project  works towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities and 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Learn more about Beyond Sport’s commitment to the SDGs here.