Interview: Yusra Mardini – Oris and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

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After the Paris Olympics, Oris and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Yusra Mardini says she’s determined to change the lives of the world’s displaced people for the better.

One stroke at a time

Oris and Yusra Mardini are working to bring Change for the Better, starting with a lifechanging refugee project

The story of how Yusra Mardini fled civil war in Syria, a terrifying ordeal that involved extraordinary hardship, was told beautifully in her book Butterfly and the Netflix film The Swimmers.

Having swum to safety as a 17-yearold refugee after the outboard motor on her small boat failed, she would realise her dream of swimming at the Olympics, qualifying for the Refugee Olympic Team at both the Rio and Tokyo Games.

In doing so, she flew the flag for the untold stories of millions of displaced people around the world whose lives are shattered by events beyond their control.

At just 17 years old, she was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, the youngest in the refugee agency’s history, and in 2023, she founded the Yusra Mardini Foundation with a mission to bring hope and purpose to refugees whose stories mirrored her own. She and her sister Sara were listed in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

Last year, we proudly announced that Yusra had agreed to become an Oris Ambassador and to join us on our mission to bring Change for the Better. At thesame time, we named her foundation an Oris Sustainability Partner, aligning our goals and values and offering our support to its projects and activities.

This year, the Yusra Mardini Foundation has been supporting Welcome 66, an initiative founded in 2018 and based in the south of France that works with refugees to help them build confidence and find their place through swimming.

Like Yusra, many refugees flee across water, even while some are unable to swim. Yusra still lives with the trauma of her own refugee experience and struggles with open water, making her uniquely positioned to work with Welcome 66.

“The aim of the project is to get the participants into the water and take away their fear,” says Yusra. “Many of them have been traumatised after fleeing across the Mediterranean. The Welcome 66 coaches help them gently to overcome this fear and, of course, improve their swimming skills.”

In 2023, Welcome 66 worked with 350 refugees through 100 sporting and cultural activities, offering French classes and job application support, too.

Yusra, who was at the Paris Olympics commentating for Eurosport, continues to share her own experience with refugees.

“Being involved with Welcome 66 has given me the confidence and courage to approach new goals and challenges,” she says. “I believe that being brave in life is a must. Going back to the water has given me courage to face new challenges. And I knew I was back to show the impact of sports on refugees’ lives. Everyone deserves access to sport and everyone can learn to swim or do other sports if the infrastructure allows it.”

Welcome 66’s work may be invaluable, but it lives with the constant threat of underfunding. With the support of the Yusra Mardini Foundation, backed by Oris, its programmes have been secured for another year. “The funding from Oris means Welcome 66 can keep going and offer indoor swimming through the winter,” says Yusra. “Of course, this incurs costs that could not previously be covered, but now will be.”

Oris and the Yusra Mardini Foundation remain on the same path. “Change for the Better remains our common goal,” says Yusra. “I would like to initiate further sustainable projects with Oris that enable cooperation between NGOs and brands, and also to provide templates for other partnerships. There should be no such thing as envy in humanitarian work. We all want the same thing.”

The world is complicated, but compassion and kindness go a long way

Oris Ambassador Yusra Mardini talks about the Olympics, her foundation, Welcome 66 and bringing Change for the Better

Yusra, great to be talking to you again. How was your summer?
It’s been an exciting few months. We started our first projects with the Yusra Mardini Foundation, and I returned to Lesbos to swim in the sea where my sister Sara and I arrived in Europe. That was hard but powerful. And then, of course, there were the Olympic Games in Paris! I was a reporter for Eurosport and mainly covered the Refugee Olympic Team, a unique experience I’m so grateful for.

You’re a former member of that team. How was commentating on it?
It was a bitter-sweet feeling, but I felt like part of that fantastic team, only with a different role, telling the stories of their exciting journeys with sports at the Olympics and beyond. The huge moment was when boxer Cindy Ngamba won the Refugee Olympic Team’s first ever medal. Cindy’s is a great example of how anyone can achieve their goals if they’re treated fairly and given the right support.

What challenges will Cindy and her refugee teammates have overcome to qualify for the Games?
It depends heavily on conditions in the host country and what freedom athletes have to travel. Travel is often restricted when you’re on a refugee passport and you can’t simply take part in every competition or training camp. It’s tough.

We’re very proud to support the Yusra Mardini Foundation. How is its work bringing Change for the Better?
Yes, it’s a wonderful partnership and already making a real difference to forcibly displaced people. The foundation has had a good year. Two of the highlights have been supporting a major swimming project in Greece and finding a partner in France, Welcome 66, which uses sport in its daily work with refugees.

How did you come across Welcome 66 and what drew you to it?
With friends at the UNHCR, we looked for an established organisation that was using sport to make a difference but needed support. Welcome 66 was the perfect partner. Sport is a pillar of their work, and they also teach French and offer training for job applications, but it was at risk of reducing its activities because of a lack of funding.

What’s the aim of the project?
We specifically support the Welcome 66 swimming programme. Our collaboration has enabled it to continue this year. The aim is to get the participants into the water and take away their fear. Many of them have been traumatised after fleeing across the Mediterranean. The Welcome 66 coaches help them gently to overcome this fear and, of course, improve their swimming skills.

You’ve said in the past you still find swimming in open water after your experiences traumatic. How has the project impacted you personally?
Yes, that’s true and returning to the water was scary, but I believe that being brave in life is a must. Going back has given me courage to face new challenges. And I knew I was back to show the impact of sports on refugees’ lives. Everyone deserves access to sport and everyone can learn to swim or do other sports if the infrastructure allows it.

What difference will Oris’s sponsorship make to Welcome 66?
The funding from Oris means Welcome 66 can keep going and offer indoor swimming through the winter. Of course, this incurs costs that could not previously be covered, but now will be. And we’re also working together beyond that, too.

How can people get involved in the Yusra Mardini Foundation?
As a charity organisation, we’re always dependent on support. And anyone who can empathise with our work can help us. There are various ways to get involved. It starts with taking an interest in our work and talking about it among friends and people you know – spread the word. If someone has the time and desire, they can support us as a volunteer for projectrelated activities as a coach or with general work. And of course we also need the financial basis for our work. Every small donation helps and other major partners are also welcome.

You’re also a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. How would you describe the need for the UNHCR’s work today?
Through both my personal journey and my role as a Goodwill Ambassador, I’ve witnessed these needs firsthand, including during a recent visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. The vital humanitarian work carried out by UNHCR means that people who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution, as well as those who are stateless, are supported at every stage of their journey. From providing access to life-saving services during emergencies, to longer-term solutions such as helping people build a life or home in a safe place, UNHCR is there for people who experience displacement. The world is complicated, and it is crucial that there is an international body to advocate for refugees both in the short and long term. That said, UNHCR cannot do this alone and urgently needs support. Without increased contributions, the situation will only worsen, putting the wellbeing of millions at risk. From my own experiences, and seeing the work that UNHCR does, I know that kindness and compassion go a long way to improving the lives of refugees and displaced people. Unfortunately, this work has never been more important than it is now.

We’re so inspired by your example and grateful for our collaboration. How would you like it to evolve?
The Yusra Mardini Foundation and Oris have been on a common path for almost a year now. Change for the Better remains our common goal. We want to continue to support the work that we started with Welcome 66, and our partnership will enable that. I’d also like to initiate further sustainable projects with Oris that enable cooperation between NGOs and brands, and also to provide templates for other partnerships. There should be no such thing as envy in humanitarian work. We all want the same thing.

The shoot we did with you is amazing!
Yes, I’m very happy with the images we have now. Shooting in a swimming pool is great for a swimmer, but this was no ordinary training pool. I loved the architecture and sense of place. The team did a great job and I was proud to wear clothing from Casablanca. And the watches stand out well, too.

Have you got used to being in front of the camera and the centre of attention?
I now have a lot of experience in front of the camera and I’ve done many great shoots. I actually really enjoy it, even though I’m personally more reserved and don’t see myself as the centre of attention. I like team play more.

Which watch were you wearing for the shoot and why did you choose it?
I’ve tried several models from the Aquis series and it’s been a pleasure wearing the new Aquis Date 36.50 mm. I love its sporty yet classic design because it suits me and makes the watch super versatile. And I love the different colours, too. They offer something for every taste.

Now that the Paris Olympics are over, what’s next for you?
It takes a while to process all the impressions and high emotions of an Olympics. But life goes on! My focus will now shift back to my film studies at the University of California, and to advocating for refugees worldwide.