Pilot Project: Social Muay Thai Program
In June 2025, SOMA Association launched its first pilot program for migrant and refugee women in Barcelona. Over six weeks, participants joined free Muay Thai classes designed as a safe and welcoming space to build confidence, reduce stress, and form meaningful connections.
The program was delivered in partnership with Ruckus Athletics S.L., blending professional martial arts training with a trauma-informed, socially inclusive approach. Alongside training, participants also took part in community activities such as: a screening of interviews from a women’s Muay Thai sparring event, watching a live Muay Thai fight together, a summer party, and participating in cultural events in Catalunya.
Why It Matters
Refugee and migrant women in Barcelona often face barriers to accessing sports and building social networks, both crucial for wellbeing and social cohesion. This pilot broke those barriers by physical training, games and social events, all purposefully designed to accommodate language and cultural differences, and by creating an environment where women of different ages and backgrounds could grow together through movement and community.
Reach & Participation
The program brought together 32 participants from 16 countries, aged 18–50. Referrals came through a strong NGO network, including Fundación Áurea, Helia, CEAR, and BarcelonActua, showing the trust and collaboration already forming around this initiative.
Participant Voices
The most powerful feedback came directly from the women themselves:
“For me, Muay Thai was really enjoyable. I made new friends, learned new things, and I want the program to be held again.”
“The training staff were so kind, engaging, and supportive. I’ve already recommended the program to others.”
“Las clases eran muy dinámicas. El equipo eran solo mujeres, muy interesadas en que aprendiéramos, con actividades diferentes y música bien seleccionada.”
Other participants highlighted the supportive environment, the chance to learn something new, and the friendships formed. Many emphasized their desire for the program to continue and grow.
Key Learnings
The overwhelming interest from both NGOs and migrant women confirmed the urgent need for inclusive, women-centered sports programs. Our outreach efforts and program implementation highlighted two critical factors for success: collaboration with local partners and multilingual accessibility. The Muay Thai curriculum proved effective across diverse experience levels, boosting confidence, social connection, and well-being. At the same time, the pilot emphasized the need for clear strategies to maintain consistent attendance over time.
What’s Next
The pilot validated both the community demand and the effectiveness of our approach. Building on these results, SOMA will scale its impact by launching longer and more frequent programs, introducing alumni and leadership pathways, and integrating employment support initiatives.
We are also committed to open access for all training materials, lesson plans, outreach strategies, and the SOMA Method—so that other martial arts gyms, NGOs, and migration organizations worldwide can adapt and replicate our model to benefit even more communities.