Summer Learning Journey Activity 2: Swimming to Safety

Yusra Mardini is a teenage girl who was born in Syria, a war-torn country in the Middle East. She left Syria in 2015 to get away from the constant fighting and became a refugee. During her journey to reach safety in a new country, the engine on the boat she was travelling in broke down and Yusra, her sister and two others jumped out of the boat and swam to get help. Her heroic actions saved twenty people’s lives.

Yusra now lives in Germany. In 2016 she was named as part of the Refugee Olympic Team and she swam for this team in the last summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is now training for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
...................................................................................................................................................................My Learning:
Yusra Mardini is a great swimmer. She is Syrian. She was in Syrian when a refugee war was
happening so her and her sister flew out overseas to Europe for safety in 2015. They both saved
20 people's lives when they were on a dinghy capsizing and saving 20 people's lives. 1 year later
Yusra's courage strong and determination. Her swimming skills were seen by International
Olympic Committee and became the first ever refugee Olympic team competed at the Olympic
Games in Rio 2016! Helping to present 65 MILLION displaced people worldwide (whitch was
 kind).
Since then, Yusra has addressed the United Nations General Assembly and met world leaders
 such as United States President Barack Obama and Pope Francis. She has been presented
with a number of reputable awards and has been seen for her work by Time and People
 magazines!

Yusra now lives in Berlin, Germany and is concentrating on her professional swimming career.
She aims to compete at the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Yusra is a Goodwill diplomat
 for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
 United Nations (UN) Refugee business and works to alter global perceptions of refugees. Her
message of hope, determination and courage reminds us that those who flee their countries are
capable of achieving great things.