KLABU
This social enterprise has created something truly special: a cross-border sports club for the refugee community. Hence the name KLABU, which means club in Swahili.
In their sports clubhouses in refugee settings around the world, from Brazil to Greece, they’re using the power of sports as a way to give refugees a sense of pride, joy and purpose. Each club has their own kit in bright, optimistic patterns, a signature style you’ll find in their 100% recycled polyester teamwear shirts too.
KLABU shirts can be customised with your logo and branding, which sit alongside their own butterfly logo – a symbol of transformation. 50% of profits go directly into the KLABU Foundation, which builds and maintains the sports clubs, with the rest invested into growing the brand.
With the likes of the United Nations Refugee Agency and football club Paris Saint-Germain among their supporters, you know they’re on to something good.
Jan van Hövell grew up with parents who worked with refugees. So perhaps it was natural that when his entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, he’d incorporate a social mission supporting the community.
His lifelong love of sports also influenced the direction of KLABU. During his own time interning at a refugee camp in Ghana, he kicked off games of football and saw how it spread positivity throughout the people living there.
The first KLABU clubhouse launched in Kenya’s Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement in 2019, with seven now up and running to date in 2024. Jan and the team hope that number will increase to 50+ clubs by 2030.
Founded By
Jan van Hövell & sportswear brand co-founder Kelvin Govey
