Warsaw
Spirit
Whistle blows, the game begins! In Warsaw, Poland, we are preparing to launch the newly designed KLABU Mobile Clubhouse: a sports and community hub on wheels offering refugees and locals a place to play and belong.
Meet Coach Ivan and Maxim, one of our younger community members, who help make sure everyone feels welcome at our activities.
In Warsaw, refugees face loneliness, stress and barriers to finding work and building community.
Since the full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 1 million Ukrainians have registered for temporary protection in Poland. Over 200,000 refugees now live in the Mazovia region, with around half of them in the capital, Warsaw. Ukrainians are not alone. People from Belarus, Russia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Turkey, Moldova and Georgia are also seeking safety here.
With the Mobile Clubhouse, KLABU and our local partner Fundacja dla Wolności (Foundation for Freedom) can reach different neighbourhoods in and around the city. Together we create safe, uplifting and welcoming spaces where sport becomes a foundation for connection, mental health and belonging.
Workshop with the community in Warsaw
Pilot of the Mobile Clubhouse concept in Cox's Bazar
At the heart of the project is the Mobile Clubhouse, a sports and community hub that travels to community hotspots, schools and refugee reception centres across Warsaw.
Following the successful pilot of a rolling clubhouse in Cox's Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, the Mobile Clubhouse will travel to sports fields, community hotspots, schools and refugee reception centres across Warsaw and the wider Mazovia region. Wherever it parks, people will find access to a sports library where they can borrow equipment, join a lively activity programme, watch live sports broadcasts on the clubhouse television, and simply hang out, relax and connect in a welcoming environment.
Run by a team of refugees and locals and led by a full time Clubhouse Manager, the Warsaw Mobile Clubhouse will host activities such as football, volleyball, yoga and breathwork sessions. In cooperation with our project partner Adyen, we also plan to organise workshops focused on life skills and employability.
A 3D drawing of the future Mobile Clubhouse
Over 5,000 refugees and locals are expected to take part in the programme in the coming years, supported by clear impact goals.
Wherever it goes, the Mobile Clubhouse will create a space filled with energy, play and shared growth. We will focus on three impact goals:
- Improving mental health: regular sports activities will help relieve stress, support wellbeing and strengthen resilience.
- Fostering connections between refugees and Polish host community members: shared games and training sessions will create space for understanding, trust and meaningful encounters between newcomers and local residents.
- Creating a sense of belonging: through routine, teamwork and repeated interaction, refugees will build a sense of home and connection in Warsaw.
The Warsaw Spirit brings football activities to neighbourhoods in Warsaw where refugees and local communities meet on the pitch.
The Etnoliga unites around 700 players from refugee and host communities each year
We organise yoga sessions for women and girls in the Dębak reception centre for asylum seekers, bringing moments of joy and much-needed mental relief.
This project is a team effort between KLABU, Foundation for Freedom, UNHCR and Adyen. We've worked on a phased rollout plan, kicking off in spring 2026.
Foundation for Freedom has been bringing communities together in Warsaw for more than 20 years. Their multicultural football league, Etnoliga, unites around 700 players from refugee and host communities each year. UNHCR supports the project with on the ground expertise and guidance in this evolving context. Our partner Adyen supports the initiative both financially and through technical and strategic advice.
The next steps of the rollout are as follows:
- Spring 2026: set-up phase and pilot activities in Warsaw neighbourhoods.
- 2026/2027: full programme implementation with Foundation for Freedom.
- 2028: expansion of the programme, reaching thousands more participants.
- 2029 onwards: full handover to Foundation for Freedom, ensuring long-term sustainability.
If circumstances change, the Mobile Clubhouse can be relocated to another part of Poland, allowing the project to respond where it is needed most.
