"We are like you, we have dreams, we have goals we want to achieve in life. We are all human." - Lilian (25) from Ethiopia
During the 2016 Olympics in Rio, a refugee team participated for the first time in history, representing 79.5 million forcibly displaced people around the world. Many refugees are younger than 18, and spend an average of 17 years in refugee camps, where their days are long and there is nothing to do.
This historic moment inspired a group of young people in Amsterdam and Kenya to find a structural solution for the lack of opportunities for young athletes in refugee camps. With an overarching ambition to build bridges across borders and power positive and sustainable change, we launched KLABU in 2019 and are growing the club every day.
During the 2016 Olympics in Rio, a refugee team participated for the first time in history, representing 79.5 million forcibly displaced people around the world. Many refugees are younger than 18, and spend an average of 17 years in refugee camps, where their days are long and there is nothing to do.
This historic moment inspired a group of young people in Amsterdam and Kenya to find a structural solution for the lack of opportunities for young athletes in refugee camps. With an overarching ambition to build bridges across borders and power positive and sustainable change, we launched KLABU in 2019 and are growing the club every day.


Welcome to the KLABU in Kalobeyei
Whether you're kicking a ball in Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement or on the streets of Paris - we all share the power and joy of sports. But we don't all have the same opportunities.
A KLABU Clubhouse is a bright and inviting place where the community can come together to meet and play. The club is open for refugees and locals from all nationalities, ages and genders.
Local KLABU Leaders, male and female representatives chosen by the local community, are in charge of the day-to-day management of the Clubhouse.
Individuals and teams can register to borrow equipment and sportswear. The library system ensures that items are returned and the community can benefit from sustainable access to sports.
Although the borrowing of sports equipment and clothing is free of charge, additional benefits for the community (such as electricity and wifi) come at a small price to stimulate self-reliance and ownership of the Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse is a hub for training, tournaments, and social gatherings. Groups can hold meetings or organize indoor games tournaments in the Clubhouse - especially popular among women and children.
Local KLABU Leaders, male and female representatives chosen by the local community, are in charge of the day-to-day management of the Clubhouse.
Individuals and teams can register to borrow equipment and sportswear. The library system ensures that items are returned and the community can benefit from sustainable access to sports.
Although the borrowing of sports equipment and clothing is free of charge, additional benefits for the community (such as electricity and wifi) come at a small price to stimulate self-reliance and ownership of the Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse is a hub for training, tournaments, and social gatherings. Groups can hold meetings or organize indoor games tournaments in the Clubhouse - especially popular among women and children.
Clubhouses




“When we do sports, I can play with the Somalis, the Sudanese, the Burundians, the Rwandese, Ethiopians. Because we are together.” - Isaac from Congo, Head KLABU Leader in Kalobeyei.
Feel the kalobeyei spirit






Instead of being fully reliant on donations and funding from our sponsors, KLABU aims to become a healthy organization with long-term impact. Developing and selling KLABU products gives us a level of independence, so we have set up our organization so that we can grow into the biggest sports club in the world, unlocking sports for millions of overlooked athletes around the world.
To set up new Clubhouses in refugee camps, we find sponsors to cover setup costs. The operating costs to run the Clubhouses are funded through the KLABU brand. This means that when you buy a KLABU product, you are giving a refugee athlete access to sports through our Clubhouses.
The KLABU Foundation builds and operates our Clubhouses on a non-profit basis. The Foundation is funded primarily through donations from institutions and private individuals and proceeds from the sale of KLABU products. 100% of what we fundraise goes towards unlocking sports for the overlooked.
The development and sale of KLABU products is carried out by a separate legal entity, KLABU B.V. This limited private company is a social enterprise in charge of the KLABU brand.
For every €5 we fundraise through the sale of products, we can power access to sports for one person for one year through one of our Clubhouses. Either 50% of the brand’s profit or 10% of the revenue, whichever is higher, is donated to the Foundation to support the maintenance and operational costs of the Clubhouses. The other 50% is reinvested into the brand to grow the business, impact, and visibility of the KLABU organization as a whole.
To set up new Clubhouses in refugee camps, we find sponsors to cover setup costs. The operating costs to run the Clubhouses are funded through the KLABU brand. This means that when you buy a KLABU product, you are giving a refugee athlete access to sports through our Clubhouses.
The KLABU Foundation builds and operates our Clubhouses on a non-profit basis. The Foundation is funded primarily through donations from institutions and private individuals and proceeds from the sale of KLABU products. 100% of what we fundraise goes towards unlocking sports for the overlooked.
The development and sale of KLABU products is carried out by a separate legal entity, KLABU B.V. This limited private company is a social enterprise in charge of the KLABU brand.
For every €5 we fundraise through the sale of products, we can power access to sports for one person for one year through one of our Clubhouses. Either 50% of the brand’s profit or 10% of the revenue, whichever is higher, is donated to the Foundation to support the maintenance and operational costs of the Clubhouses. The other 50% is reinvested into the brand to grow the business, impact, and visibility of the KLABU organization as a whole.
Press Coverage
"It’s not Nike or Adidas, but this cool sportswear is making life in refugee camps better"
READ ARTICLEForbes
July 29th 2019
"How A Refugee Charity Plans To Become The World’s Biggest Sports Club"
READ ARTICLE"KLABU drops 2 dope football kits to raise money for refugees"
READ ARTICLE[Dutch] "Het idee is dat het concept overal komt waar mensen sportspullen nodig hebben. In favela's, sloppenwijken, maar ook gewoon in Nederland. Jan: 'Zo kunnen we sport overal en voor iedereen mogelijk maken.'"
READ ARTICLE[German] "Trend-Shirt mit Botschaft: Mit diesem stylishen (Fußball-)Trikot unterstützen Sie einen Sportclub für Geflüchtete in Kenia"
READ ARTICLE
"It’s not Nike or Adidas, but this cool sportswear is making life in refugee camps better"
READ ARTICLE

Forbes
July 29th 2019
"How A Refugee Charity Plans To Become The World’s Biggest Sports Club"
READ ARTICLE

"KLABU drops 2 dope football kits to raise money for refugees"
READ ARTICLE

[Dutch] "Het idee is dat het concept overal komt waar mensen sportspullen nodig hebben. In favela's, sloppenwijken, maar ook gewoon in Nederland. Jan: 'Zo kunnen we sport overal en voor iedereen mogelijk maken.'"
READ ARTICLE

[German] "Trend-Shirt mit Botschaft: Mit diesem stylishen (Fußball-)Trikot unterstützen Sie einen Sportclub für Geflüchtete in Kenia"