Wolfe-Murray Sought Funding for Refugee Charity in Samarkand
The founder of Movement in Refuge visited the FIDE Chess Olympiad to secure support for programs in Bangladesh.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Do you believe individuals are more effective than large institutions at delivering humanitarian aid?
Magnus Wolfe-Murray traveled to Samarkand to seek financial backing for his charity, Movement in Refuge. The organization provides humanitarian support and fitness training for displaced people living in the Cox's Bazar refugee camp.
Why it matters
Wolfe-Murray established the project to honor a mission he planned with his late fiancée, Kasha Rigby, who passed away in 2024. The initiative aims to build confidence and provide new opportunities for residents within the camp.
The charity currently supports 185 individuals through its various humanitarian programs. Operations are funded through small donations, with the organization actively seeking large grants to expand its reach.
The players
Magnus Wolfe-Murray
He is the founder of Movement in Refuge and a former humanitarian advisor to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Kasha Rigby
She was the late fiancée of Magnus Wolfe-Murray who died in a 2024 avalanche.
The details
Movement in Refuge offers a variety of services, including gym access, yoga, chess instruction, self-defense classes, and spike ball. The charity plans to further expand its impact by training women in swimming and fitness coaching.
Timeline
Wolfe-Murray served as a UK humanitarian advisor from 2020 to 2023.
Kasha Rigby died in an avalanche in Kosovo in February 2024.
Movement in Refuge was founded in November 2024.
Wolfe-Murray attended the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This fundraising effort at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad demonstrates how smaller non-profit organizations are increasingly forced to target niche international events to reach potential donors. The move marks a pivot away from traditional solicitation as the group seeks to scale beyond small individual contributions.
The charity's ongoing reliance on small donations means that individuals interested in the cause can directly influence its operational capacity through personal contributions. No immediate changes to service pricing or accessibility were announced for the participants in Bangladesh.
The takeaway
The project serves as a model for how personal loss can catalyze small-scale international humanitarian action. Supporting such grassroots initiatives often requires a focus on sustainable long-term grant funding rather than relying solely on individual donors.
Further reading
Learn more about the global non-profit sector by visiting our Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The National.
Live Poll
Do you believe individuals are more effective than large institutions at delivering humanitarian aid?
