丨肯尼亚

sport clubhouse Kalobeyei, Kenya

Kalobeyei, Kenya

recreation & sport

in use

Roof for Humanity / Ruimte om in te geloven

In close collaboration with Klabu, a Dutch NGO that brings sports to refugee camps, we realized a fantastic clubhouse for the community of Kalobeyei village 3 in the North of Kenya. After months of preparation and an investigation visit in June 2018, our Roof for Humanity construction team got shape in the end of October 2018 with the support of our local partner LWF and the local department of UNHCR.

Together with a great construction team of local, Turkana people, other Kenyan people and refugees from many different countries we realized a space for the whole community. Here, they can play games and do sports all day long!

Setting the corners of the building

the first step(s)

getting ready to built

level check of the foundation

Setting the coordinates of the building corners

creating the window for the sports library

construction site Kalobeyei

surrounding of the Turkana area

having lunch at the construction site

The team had many talented people who truly all brought their own quality to this project. From the start, we connected all parties in this area to cooperate in building the clubhouse. Local Turkana community, central Kenyan citizens, and other people living in the area from many different countries. They shared knowledge, experiences and worked together on a common goal and this let not only a to unique building, it also created a community within the team.

We supported each other in daily matters, shared difficulties and happy moments together. This strengthened the connection between the construction team and all people involved in the project.

Abong and George, from South Sudan and central Kenya, members of the RfH construction team

John from Turkana, Kenya

Epuwa from Turkana Kenya

John from Uganda

Abong from central Kenya

Andrew from South Sudan

Adam from central Kenya

Trevor from Uganda

Narda from the Netherlands

making off traditional chairs with our local Turkana construction team members

traditional Turkana furniture

In collaboration with the local community, we try to integrate traditional building techniques and local furniture into the clubhouse design. Local materials where used to make sure the maintenance would be easy and possible for the community users. As we mixed new elements with old traditional techniques, we made a unique combination and this resulted in new insights for everyone! It allowed the construction team to explore talents and to give space to personal development. We are very proud of all construction team members! Together, we created a very rich and personal project for the youth in Kalobeyei.

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

Putting in the steel of the ring beam

binding the steel

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

Roof construction

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

Calculating the steel

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

The welder working on the roof construction

workshop to design the mural

drawing artists sharing their ideas

Painting the roof construction

The aim of this project was multi-layered. First, the obvious aim was to build a clubhouse where all citizens of the refugee settlement and the local inhabitants of Turkana could play sports and come together! Second, the whole process was based on ownership and co-creation. Together with Klabu, LWF and UNHCR, we gave workshops and trainings to prepare the people to manage the club and create a network of trainers, coaches and referees for sports tournaments. Third, which was the most important goal of Roof for Humanity, we worked with skilled and non-skilled people from many different backgrounds and countries during the entire construction process. These were local Turkana people, refugees from Uganda, Somali, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi and people from several parts of Kenya. We believe in a team full of diversity, because we can learn from each other! The ones with experience can teach others how to do it. Then, by sharing knowledge and stories, we create community in the midst of the construction work. This is a very important part of the project and the way of working of all the partners in this project.

Enabling people to get more skills and become more independent is one of the reasons this Klabu Clubhouse has turned out to be very successful. Together, in an equal relationship, we can create a valuable place for social activities and building community.

We, Roof for Humanity, believe in the approach involving all parties in the whole process and were very happy to work within this long term vision of living and working together.

Clubhouse in use

Epuwa, one of our construction team during the opening

performance of traditional Turkana dancers

Hellen, one of our construction team during the opening

playing chess in the community space

Clubhouse in use

klabu manager office

volleybal fields besides the clubhouse

Proud Roof for Humanity field director, Narda Beunders, at the opening of the Clubhouse

Believe in yourself, everybody can grow

baking chipati for lunch at Hellen’s place

playing domino in the community space