Sport can change lives. Tadesse Abraham, Switzerland’s fastest marathon runner, is a testament to that. His story shows how running can help with integration. In 2020, we set up the “THSN Refugee Team”, a running group for people from a refugee background. Working with Tadesse as a coach, we help refugees achieve their goals. Find out exactly how it works and who the team is aimed at here.
Together with “The Human Safety Net Switzerland”, Generali Switzerland is supporting projects that help people with a refugee or migrant background. The idea of “people helping people” is at the centre of the Generali Group’s global joint initiative The Human Safety Net (THSN). Across the world, 21 countries with 24 programmes are taking part in the initiative. All share a common objective: to offer disadvantaged people opportunities for a better life.
The project
“The Human Safety Net Switzerland”, a charitable organisation, set up the THSN Refugee Team together with marathon runner Tadesse Abraham. The team consists of two running groups. One group meets in Geneva to train and is supported by the local organisation Hospice général. The second group trains with the non-profit association SPORTEGRATION. Anyone from a refugee background who wants to take part is welcome. This running team is primarily aimed at encouraging integration through sport. We also offer a range of activities to support those seeking a career as a professional runner.
Who can join the THSN Refugee Team?
The THSN Refugee Team is open to all refugees. If you’d like to become a professional runner, you’ll find experienced coaches and support for all levels here. We offer all kinds of running workshops and training sessions. The three best runners in each team win the “Refugee Running Trophy” and complete a training camp in Grisons.
However, the THSN Refugee Team isn’t only open to those looking to become professionals. We want to offer the communication and integration that comes with sport to everyone.
All you need to bring is motivation.
Our training sessions
Training sessions last about an hour. Participants are split into two groups.
In Geneva
Training sessions take place at the Bout-du-Monde sports centre in Geneva (on the left by the stand, in front of the fitness park) on Wednesdays at 6.15 pm and Fridays at 6.45 pm.
Sign up for a taster session in Geneva here.
In Zurich
Training sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.00 pm.
Tuesday meeting place: 400 m track at the University Sport Center in Fluntern (next to the Zoo tram station)
Thursday meeting place: Generali agency at Mühlbachstrasse 7 in Zurich
Sign up for a taster session in Zurich here.
Our coaches
Our coaches offer advice and support to help runners achieve their goals. They also put together a tailored running programme and track performance during and outside the training sessions.
Tadesse Abraham holds the Swiss record for marathon running – 2:06:40. He became the European half marathon champion in Amsterdam and took seventh place at the Olympic Games in Rio. He describes himself as the THSN Refugee Team’s “big brother”.
Born in rural Eritrea, he arrived in Switzerland as a refugee in 2004. His is a true success story; he’s learned first-hand just how much sport can help with integration. Giving something back means a lot to him. That’s why Mr Abraham joined this initiative himself as a coach. He’ll be on hand whenever he can to pass on his experience in professional sport and share his tips on training with those taking part.
In Geneva
Tadesse Abraham’s personal trainer and 800-metre vice-world champion at the World Masters in 2015, Olivier Baldacchino, leads all Geneva training sessions. Mr Baldacchino has worked as a sports coach for over 20 years.
In Zurich
Marco Rancan trains the team in Zurich. He’s been a running coach at LC Uster for over 15 years – the very club that helped Mr Abraham on his road to success. Mr Rancan also coaches junior runners who represent their country in a variety of running categories and sports at the highest level in Switzerland and Europe.
The benefits
Members of the THSN Refugee Team enjoy many benefits. We offer amateurs and professionals alike
- Free training twice a week with our coaches
- Free starts at all runs on the Generali Running Tour
Prospective professional runners
- Your very own training plan
- The opportunity to attend a training camp in Grisons
- Workshops with experts tailored to participants’ requirements
Prospective running coaches
- Specialised coaching
- Co-coaches on Generali Running Tour runs
In summer 2021, a group of athletes joined Tadesse Abraham at the training camp in St. Moritz.
Our team members
Get to know some of our team members.
Yohannes Haysh
Yohannes is from Eritrea. He was born in 1999 and arrived in Switzerland in 2015. Disciplined and studious by nature, the young man has quickly learned French and performs outstandingly well in his studies. Armed with his high-school-level diploma in general studies, he is currently studying for his specialist diploma in healthcare. He hopes to go on to study for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at HES-SO.
“Running gives me a lot of energy. I love it! After each training session with the THSN Refugee Team, I feel reinvigorated and proud of myself.”
As a child, Yohannes spent all his time running and playing with his friends. Sport remains an all-encompassing aspect of his life to this day. As well as running, he plays football, basketball and volleyball, and loves to go cycling. Impressed by his speed, Yohannes’s PE teacher advised him to join the Stade de Genève Athletics Club. Following an injury and enforced hiatus of several months, he was delighted to begin training again in September 2020 when the THSN Refugee Team was set up.
His aim? To decide which discipline he was strongest in and to improve his performance. His speed, solid technique, sharp attention to detail and strong concentration skills make Yohannes an outstanding runner.
Mahmood Sultan Mohamed
Mahmood was born in 1983 in southern Afghanistan – a country torn apart by conflict. He was raised by his uncle after his parents’ early deaths and soon quit school to earn a living. Self-taught, Mahmood worked as a mason, wood sculptor, tiler, gardener and baker. He married Marzia and they had two daughters, Sara and Sana. The enduring warfare made opportunities to earn a living for his family harder and harder to come by. Mahmood eventually left Afghanistan in 2014, taking his family with him. They spent a little over a year in Turkey and passed through about ten different countries before reaching Switzerland in 2015. He quickly offered his services to Caritas, where he worked as a volunteer and learned French. In 2018, he landed a job at the skating rink in Grand-Saconnex, followed by a permanent gardening position in the town in 2020.
Mahmood is a big-hearted man with a great deal of gratitude towards his adopted country. When he isn’t working, he’s involved with a variety of good causes, such as the volunteer fire service and – since he started running – the Défi Joëlette team.
“I joined the THSN Refugee Team with my wife and two daughters. We take part in all the training sessions. It’s always great fun. We’ve made friends with other members of the team. ”
Mahmood took up running completely by chance. While he was taking French lessons with two volunteers, they asked him to go running with them. It quickly became a habit. For Mahmood, running is a good way to keep fit and set a good example for his daughters, who are very active themselves. He now runs several times a week – and loves it. The reward for all that effort? Heading home to dinner with his family. It seems his wife is an excellent chef…
Kidane Solomon
Kidane Solomon is Eritrean. He was born in 1990 and arrived in Switzerland in 2014. He began running for fun and gradually fell in love with the sport. His performance quickly improved. However, juggling different jobs and his efforts to integrate put the brakes on his progress. This prevented him from dedicating himself to his passion.
“Thanks to the support of the THSN Refugee Team, my chances of achieving my dream – to become a professional athlete – have multiplied. ”
Switzerland is where Kidane really began to dedicate himself to running. What began as a simple leisure activity quickly became a passion. As his progress continued and thanks to his determination, Kidane gradually allowed himself to believe in his dream of becoming a professional runner. Among the different races he has entered, he distinguished himself particularly well in September 2020 at the Frankfurt Half Marathon. In this race, he took second place. An incredible performance – especially considering he was still borrowing shoes from a friend back then to take part. He subsequently joined the THSN Refugee Team not long after its creation. This saw him take part in the Swiss Half-Marathon Championships in October 2020 in Generali's colours. He came second.
His next goal? To run his first marathon. A fundraising campaign organised by the THSN Refugee Team gave Kidane the necessary funding to attend a training camp in Ethiopia in January 2021. Kidane’s future looks all mapped out.
Berihu Habtemariam
Berihu Habtemariam was born in 1998 in a small town in southern Eritrea, near Mendefera. He has eight brothers and sisters, including Awet, who is also a member of the THSN Refugee Team. When he arrived in Switzerland in 2014, he quickly learned French and trained as a commercial assistant.
His smile tells you a great deal about who he is. Berihu is a motivated and determined young man with a contagious zest for life. When he isn’t encouraging his fellow team members, he spends most of his time joking around.
“I love being part of a community and I love running. The THSN Refugee Team combines the two. Running in a team helps you motivate each other. I’ve met new people and made new friends. ”
Sport is important in Eritrea. While most of his friends tried to outdo each other on their bikes and followed cycling races obsessively, Berihu preferred football and running. He even took part in several running competitions organised by his school – experiences he enjoyed immensely. When he arrived in Switzerland, he continued to stay active. He took up cycling – finally – and started playing basketball regularly. Although he only ran occasionally, he still performed well on the several occasions he entered the “Course de l’Escalade”.
Since joining the THSN Refugee Team, Tadesse and Olivier’s tailored recommendations have helped him improve his performance and avoid injury. He’s currently working out whether he prefers sprinting or endurance.
Kind-hearted and friendly, Berihu loves giving his teammates encouragement and advice. As a result, he sometimes assists Olivier in his role as trainer and also follows his coaching programme.
Awet Habtemariam
Awet Habtemariam is from Eritrea. He was born in 1995 in a small town in the south of the country, near Mendefera. He left Eritrea in 2014 in search of a better life. He settled in Switzerland in 2015, where he joined his younger brother Berihu, who is also a member of the THSN Refugee Team. He has now mastered the French language and is working full-time. He hopes to bring his wife, who stayed in Ethiopia, to Switzerland.
“I’m delighted to be part of the THSN Refugee Team. The team didn’t just help me get back into running. It also allowed me to make friends and gave me an incredible amount of motivation in my day-to-day life. ”
As a child, Awet literally ran to school – an hour away from home. He grew with the pace of his strides. Running is undoubtedly part of his DNA. When he arrived in Switzerland, he didn’t know how to keep it up. He didn’t know what went on in the local area or have anyone to practise with.
Awet was one of the first people to join the THSN Refugee Team. His technique and speed impressed Tadesse and Olivier straight away. Awet is extremely motivated. He trains several times a week and follows the training plan drawn up by the coaches to the letter. The results didn’t take long to emerge and his performance has really taken off ever since.
Zafar Hotak
Zafar was born in Afghanistan in 1997. He fled his country and the conflict that plagued it in 2015. He stopped off in different places before he reached Greece, where he spent over a year in a Lesbos refugee camp. Zafar eventually arrived in Switzerland in 2017. He was relieved to finally have reached safety and determined to build a future. Although his journey had been paved with obstacles, his desire was stronger than ever. And he brought one valuable asset with him: the languages he had learned in the countries he had passed through. Convinced he had to quickly pick up French, he attended “Cafés Solidaires” (informal gatherings for socialising with the refugee community), organised by the University of Geneva. This is where he made his first connections. Thanks to his language skills, open-mindedness and incredible energy, Zafar is now very well integrated into the local community. He has just completed a pre-apprenticeship as a gardener – a job he loves.
“Sport is everything. Sport is life. It helps me push my limits and move forward with a clear mind.”
Sport is a key part of Zafar’s everyday life. Diligent and dedicated, he never misses a training session with the THSN Refugee Team. Nothing stops him. Alongside his sporting ability, he has a real aptitude for inspiring and motivating others. He is quick to take new team members under his wing. He would love to be a coach himself.
Nurmohammad Jafari
Nurmohammad – known to everyone as Noor – was born in 1996 in a village in northern Afghanistan. He spent his childhood and teenage years there, working in a restaurant to earn a living. But Noor didn’t see a future for himself in a country mired in endless conflict. In search of security, he fled the country in 2013. He took refuge in Iran, where he worked a series of jobs in the agriculture sector. Two-and-a-half years later, after travelling on foot, by boat and by bus, he finally made it to Switzerland. He is currently studying for a diploma to become a chef. He strives to stand on his own two feet as much as he can.
“Running frees my mind, motivates me and keeps me fit. Thanks to the THSN Refugee Team, I’ve made new friends. That makes it easier for me to integrate.”
Sport hadn’t been a part of Noor’s life for a long time. A friend advised him to take it up. He then discovered running, which he’s been doing regularly ever since. Running does him good. It helps him to recuperate and de-stress.
Our partners
We’d like to thank all our partners for helping contribute to the THSN Refugee Team’s success.
Main partners
SPORTEGRATION
The SPORTEGRATION association organises numerous projects for refugees in Zurich and the surrounding area. These activities focus on finding joy through staying active and being with others.
With SPORTEGRATION, sport creates the foundation for successful social integration. Every day, locals and refugees exercise together. From fitness boxing, running training, various yoga and swimming courses through to dance classes and ball sports – there is something for everyone. Developing potential, equal opportunities and holistic health promotion are just as much a priority as intercultural exchange.
Hospice général
The Hospice général is a public institution in Geneva that was established in 1535 with the aim of supporting the most vulnerable. It provides social welfare and migrant support services in the State of Geneva. As part of its mission, it shelters and houses asylum seekers and refugees in 15 locations, offering services ranging from social and administrative support and financial assistance to education and training courses as well as social and professional integration activities to help them settle in Geneva.
Equipment partners
On
Born in the Swiss Alps, On set out in 2010 with a big ambition: to revolutionise the sensation of running. It’s all based on one radical idea – soft landings followed by explosive take-offs – otherwise known as “running on clouds”. On’s radically different running technology, CloudTec®, is now patented worldwide. Today, On is the fastest-growing performance footwear brand on the planet, having been embraced into the hearts, and on the feet, of millions of runners in over 50 countries. And there’s no sign of slowing down.
Garmin
Garmin impresses runners, cyclists, golfers and sporting enthusiasts across the world with its innovative products. With the motto #BeatYesterday, about 16,000 employees work towards supporting people of all fitness levels and age groups to lead healthy lives, be more active, feel better and discover new things. Tens of millions of users are motivated and inspired by Garmin products every day. They use Garmin Connect, their free platform, to set goals, analyse training progress and share their activities with other users or via social media.
CEP Run Compression Socks
CEP, the intelligent sportswear for athletes, offers every athlete the right product for a wide range of sporting activities. CEP’s products increase performance and boost recovery through the targeted use of compression to improve blood circulation, accelerate lactate metabolism and achieve a perfect balance between health and performance. CEP’s high-quality products are made in Germany with unrivalled expertise.
Would you like to support our project? Then get in touch.
