Kalobeyei
Spirit
Karibu sana to the very first KLABU sports clubhouse, located in the Kalobeyei Settlement in Kenya. South Sudanese, Congolese or Kenyan, refugees or locals, everybody is welcome here.
The Kalobeyei Settlement is located in northern Kenya, not far from South Sudan and Uganda.
Meet the players and feel the spirit. Welcome to KLABU!
At the KLABU in Kalobeyei young people come together every day to meet and play - from football to volleyball, and from table tennis to yoga.
The settlement is home to 73,000 refugees from more than 10 African countries who live together with the local Turkana tribe. They are creating a new life in a new land, not just surviving. They are building houses, starting businesses, and going to church and school. And, of course, doing more of what they love and dream about - whether that is studying, running small businesses or coaching a football team.
The Kalobeyei community loves to play sports. But sports initiatives were nearly non-existent before the introduction of KLABU, and there was a lack of equipment and facilities. In close collaboration with the local community and UNHCR, LWF and Roof For Humanity, we developed the clubhouse and sports library system. The name KLABU, which didn't exist when we began, was soon adopted by the local community, as people started to call the clubhouse their 'klabu', meaning 'club' in Swahili.
The KLABU is about much more than sports. It's also a social hub, fully led by the local community and open to everyone. Other organisations even use the clubhouse for their activities.
The Kenya Red Cross hosts social events at the KLABU, the Dutch football federation KNVB organises coaching sessions, a dance collective from the settlement called the "Fire Dancers" offer choreography trainings, and every weekend the local yoga teacher Alfred guides the community through yoga classes. In addition to sports, a local music producer organises the highly popular "Kalobattle" music competition, and the local artist Morris Thomas teaches young children in weekly drawing classes.
Solar power, TV, sound and Wi-Fi enable these organisations and the community to broadcast football matches, play music, organise events, and connect online with loved ones in home countries. This makes the clubhouse a space where refugees and locals from all ages and backgrounds come together on their way to a better future.
"The most amazing thing about KLABU is that it’s open to everyone, especially for the youths who can do something that they love. The community has so much hope in the KLABU that it will change lives."
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The Girls Running Club led by KLABU Manager Nyagoa
Basketball tournament organised by the Kenyan Red Cross in collaboration with KLABU
Sadumba, Nyagoa, Paul and Jean Marie: the clubhouse managers and leaders
Yoga classes are taught by Rita Brown, originally from Uganda, who lives in Kalobeyei
JACKSON PAUL OF HOMIRI FC PROUDLY LIFTING THE KLABU FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT TROPHY
Chess is one of the most popular board games in Kalobeyei
Games for everyone
The KLABU provides a safe space for children outside of school hours
Board games like Ludo and chess are super popular
The 'Kalobattle' happens every week at the KLABU: a music battle among Kalobeyei talent organised by a local collective
Table tennis is extremely popular at the KLABU
Volleyball for all: where boys and girls come together on the pitch
Kalobeyei's very first ultimate frisbee team coached by KLABU Manager Jean Marie
Head Manager Sadumba lending equipment from the sports library
KNVB WorldCoaches Program with former Kenyan national coach Francis Kimanzi and Martha Karimi.
The Kalobeyei Clubhouse has developed into a vibrant social hub
Arts Classes are organised weekly by local artist Morris Thomas.
Frisbee, recently introduced in Kalobeyei, has become one of the popular sports
KLABU bringing the spirit to a local basketball tournament organised by the Kenya Red Cross
Clubhouseagenda
KLABU clubhouse leaders Sadumba, Nyagoa, Paul and Jean Marie manage a lively schedule with activities for everyone. Whether you like to throw a frisbee, want to cheer for your favourite club at the live sports broadcasts, do some healthy stretches at the weekly yoga sessions, or join Kalobeyei's first girls running club – everyone is welcome to share in the fun.
Thursday
26 December ’24
16:00 - 18:00
Girls Running Club
Join Nyagoa at Kalobeyei's first Girls Running Club.
Friday
27 December ’24
15:00 - 17:00
Kalobattle Music Competition
Dance and sing into the weekend at one of the most vibrant music competitions in Kalobeyei.
Saturday
28 December ’24
09:00 - 10:00
Yoga with Alfred
We invite all genders to join our weekly yoga sessions!
Monday
30 December ’24
17:00 - 18:00
Girls Football Practice
A weekly football class organised by our Head Manager Sadumba.
Monday
30 December ’24
15:00 - 17:00
Social Games Afternoon
Join the table tennis tournament or come by for a game of chess..
Tuesday
31 December ’24
16:00 - 17:00
Weekly Frisbee Session
Throw a frisbee with KLABU Manager Jean Marie.
Tuesday
31 December ’24
16:00 - 17:00
Weekly Arts Classes by Local Artist Morris Thomas
All levels welcome!
Wednesday
01 January ’25
15:00 - 16:00
Dance with the "Fire Dancers"
Choregraphy and dance training – No experience required
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"When I play football, I feel happy and excited. I love the teamwork – At KLABU many players from different nationalities, backgrounds, or tribes come together and unite as one team."
TheKalobeyeispiritbadge
The badge symbolises the three villages
in the settlement, united through camels
which are the pride of the local Kenyan Turkana and a staple of life in the region. The camels’ embrace shows friendship & unity.
Kedong FC is one of the best girls football teams in Kalobeyei, competing in the Divas League and going to the top spot
The Kalobeyei Spirit shirt was featured in FIFA21 to build more bridges between Kalobeyei and the rest of the world
The Kalobeyei community loves to play FIFA on the game console at the clubhouse
Impact so far
5 years on from its birth, the Kalobeyei Spirit still shines bright!
- Over 11,000 inhabitants of Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement and the surrounding host community have become members of the KLABU.
- The clubhouse is run by a team of 7 residents of the camp, themselves refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Congo and Rwanda. They are the KLABU managers: Sadumba, Jean Marie, Paul, Nyagoa, Alain, Tom and Riziki.
- In addition to managing the clubhouse for their local community, the managers have mentored and advised KLABU managers in other countries including in our Ter Apel clubhouse!
- The local team has transformed the clubhouse from just a sports library to a social hub with Wi-Fi to learn and stay connected, television to follow their favourite sports and music to have a dance and sing aloud.
- The KLABU managers have also made the clubhouse a base for other organisations: the Kenya Red Cross, the KNVB and community-based organisations all use the clubhouse for their activities, thereby widening the impact to health, education and culture!
- The clubhouse is a place to build bridges between the refugees of Kalobeyei and the Kenyan host community, whether on the music stage or the football pitch. Recently, rapper Seven Colours, from the local Turkana community, has become a regular at the KLABU music battles.
- Through the KLABU brand, the Kalobeyei Spirit has crossed borders. With a shirt worn by many around the world and even featured in FIFA 21, the KLABU members are recognised and honoured and part of a worldwide club.
- UNHCR is involved as a project endorser and LWF is involved as a project supporter and mentor to the clubhouse managers.
Discover more about the Kalobeyei Spirit, its members and impact through the stories below.
Clubhousestories
ClubSupport
Kalobeyei Spirit is supported by these great organisations and individuals.
The project could not have been realised without many more contributors:
WeartheKalobeyeiSpirit
By wearing KLABU sportswear, you support refugees in Kalobeyei and around the world.
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