Ter Apel
Spirit
Welcome to KLABU in the central reception centre for asylum seekers in Ter Apel. The clubhouse is helping to welcome unaccompanied minors to the Netherlands through our common passion and love for sports.
Ter Apel is located in the northeast of the Netherlands. The village has 9,000 residents and hosts 2,000 newly arrived asylum seekers.
A colourful clubhouse needs a colourful sports court
The clubhouse is the only available social space for unaccompanied minors in Ter Apel. It is always filled with energy, life and spirit.
The images of the overcrowded central reception centre for asylum seekers in the Netherlands did not escape anyone's attention in the summer of 2022. Among the large crowds, a small but extremely vulnerable group of refugees caught our attention: the unaccompanied minors - underage asylum seekers who arrive in the Netherlands without any relatives.
There are few positive distractions for these young people during their stay in Ter Apel as they are dealing with extensive trauma and stress. Ter Apel has a sports hall and sports fields, but there is a lack of material and volunteers to organise activities. In close collaboration with the Central Agency for the reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), we wanted to ensure that young people in Ter Apel get moving and take the first steps towards a better future.
Designing the clubhouse with the Ter Apel community and muralists from VAAF
Turning the container into a clubhouse with VAAF and the local community
The Ter Apel clubhouse offers a place for daily sports activities and a social space to relax
In addition to the sports library, music and television that are always available at the clubhouse, the project offers a diverse activity schedule.
The clubhouse is located next to a street football court. The vibrant colours and enticing patterns, created by the unaccompanied minors themselves and the muralists duo VAAF, serve as a magnet for positive energy around the clubhouse. The welcoming social space invites young people to come socialise, borrow sports equipment, play games and watch TV.
Whenever our trainers arrive, dozens of children are quick to arrive, hoping to take part in a new coaching session to improve their skills, laugh with their friends and learn from Koen, Tim or Nagi.
One of the first trainers was Onyekachi, originally from Nigeria. ESPN made a video in which "Kachi" featured when ESPN visited the project. Kachi later became a football trainer at the Dutch club Koninklijke HFC and is now studying to become a professional coach.
Clubhouseagenda
For three days a week, our sports library and clubhouse is open to the unaccompanied minors in Ter Apel. Here, they can borrow sports equipment, play and hang out together.
Monday
19 May ’25
15:00 - 16:00
Weekly Social Workouts by Tim
To kick the week off, come join the fun training sessions with Tim. We play dodgeball, basketball, and football.
Wednesday
21 May ’25
12:00 - 16:00
Weekly Open Clubhouse
The unaccompanied minors are invited to come to the clubhouse, enjoy a game of football or any other sports they want to play, listen to some music and hang out.
Thursday
22 May ’25
12:00 - 16:00
Weekly Open Clubhouse
The unaccompanied minors are invited to come to the clubhouse, enjoy a game of football or any other sports they want to play, listen to some music and hang out.
Friday
23 May ’25
12:00 - 16:00
Weekly Open Clubhouse
The unaccompanied minors are invited to come to the clubhouse, enjoy a game of football or any other sports they want to play, listen to some music and hang out.
Ruliana playing table tennis at the clubhouse
FOOTBALL training on THE KLABU PAINTED PITCH
KLABU team member Rie with the Ter Apel Spirit community
KLABU members enjoying the shade after an intense football match
Impact so far
In the east of the Netherlands, the Ter Apel Spirit unites all unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the country.
- Since the start of our project, over 3,500 unaccompanied minors have joined the activities and enjoyed the clubhouse facility.
- The clubhouse is the only open social space in the unaccompanied minors section where young people can come and socialise outside of their dorms. This combats isolation, loneliness and offers a fruitful place for new friendships to blossom.
- By painting their clubhouse and the football court in front of it, the unaccompanied minors have brought loads of colour to the area and also ensured a sense of ownership and belonging for them, crucial for a feeling of inclusion in Ter Apel.
- From the start, people with a refugee background have been involved in managing the project. At first, a team of adult residents of the reception centre ran it, followed by Samra, originally from Pakistan, and Onyekachi, originally from Nigeria, who organised weekly football trainings. In Samra, many young girls in Ter Apel saw an example, alongside whom they could also play, learn and take part in the fun.
- Since January 2024, three days per week, the professional Dutch organisation MV Moves now provides sports trainings and activities. Other trainings are provided on an occasional basis by organisations ApenkooiGym and Basic-Fit.
- Finally, the Ter Apel Spirit is the gateway into Dutch society for many children. For example, thanks the UEFA Foundation, some were able to go to the Women's Champions League final . Others also got the chance to play in a football tournament in the stadium of FC Emmen, which was a huge source of excitement and pride.
Discover more about the Ter Apel Spirit, its members and impact through the stories below.
ClubhouseStories
ClubSupport
Ter Apel Spirit is supported by these great organisations and individuals.
The project could not have been realised without many more contributors:
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