KLABU
Building the world’s biggest sports club for refugees from the ground up
My role
Strategy, Brand, Creative, Product, Partnerships, Community
Period
2019 - 2021
About
Founded in 2018 by Jan van Hövell, KLABU is a sports foundation whose mission is to use the power of sport and community to support refugees on their way to a better future. Supporting the unbeatable spirit of refugees by building sports clubs in refugee camps and creating sportswear to fund them. KLABU opened its first sports club in the Kalobeyei refugee settlement (population of 36,000) in northern Kenya, where previously sports initiatives were near non-existent. The club provides facilities, sports equipment and clothing through an innovative library system. Although sports cannot solve all challenges refugees face, they do bring people together and can ultimately make ‘away’ feel more like ‘home’. Visit www.klabu.com to find out more. Welcome to the KLABU.
Momentum
From one sports club in Kalobeyei, Kenya to a growing global movement for refugees.
What I worked on
- Joined the founding team to build and grow the organisation from the ground up. - Led brand development and translated the organisation’s vision into actionable initiatives. - Oversaw sportswear and product development from concept to delivery. - Led brand campaigns, activations and creative projects. - Developed strategic partnerships and collaborations to grow the brand’s reach and impact. - Built community initiatives and brand experiences to strengthen engagement and connection.
Credits
KLABU Founder: Jan van Hövell Creative Director & Brand Co-Founder: Kelvin Govey Founding Board Member: Charlotte Jongejan Partners Campaign: Wieden+Kennedy Apparel & Production: Stamperia Alicese, State of Football, Avery Dennison, Colab Consulting
