Join the club, join the KLABU!

KLABU means ‘club’ in Swahili - the clubhouse is a specially designed space for sport and unity. Everybody is welcome to the KLABU. There are people from thirteen different countries living in Kalobeyei, who can be united through sport and the KLABU clubhouse. 

The clubhouse operates like a library - equipment is owned and managed by the local community, and can be borrowed by any community member.  There are not only sports facilities at KLABU, but also a stage for people to meet, dance or simply be together. The KLABU becomes a home away from home, and the clubhouse already serves almost 10,000 team members. The KLABU is run by local managers and offers employment opportunities to people from the camps or the local host community. 

Refugees are often stuck in camps with no access to education or employment, so playing sports together can make a big difference to improve physical and mental health. Through the KLABU, the local community can access equipment to play football, basketball and volleyball. Not only are there games for the children to play, but the elderly are also invited to use the club.  

KLABU is funded by strong partnerships and the sale of their bright KLABU shirts. The HQ KLABU team is based in Amsterdam, where they have a shop, and the clothing is also available online. The KLABU shirt offers a powerful message and represents a global team. Teamwork is central to everything KLABU stands for, from the building of the clubhouse to the management and maintenance of equipment. KLABU wants to create meaningful engagement and help displaced people develop life skills.

Through communications and social media, the KLABU team uses their platform to elevate images of refugees living in camps. Future clubhouses will offer a space for members to charge devices using the solar powered energy of the club. This means teams can connect online, and this presence is crucial in empowerment for displaced people, who often feel very isolated from the rest of the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing norms have shifted the meaning of coming together, and safety is a top priority for KLABU. The team is working on ways to include running and outdoor workout facilities to ensure the refugee community can stay healthy. KLABU will not let the global pandemic get in the way of their fantastic ideas, since they plan to build many more clubhouses around the world in the near future. 

Keep a close eye on KLABU - head to their website www.klabu.org to buy your kit and follow the team on Instagram or Facebook.

Lucia Borraccino is a yoga teacher, samba dancer and runner who writes about sports, sustainability and wellbeing. 

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team.]