Documenting My Sporting Community

Zaitun Adam Mukwar, Kenya

KLABU is a social startup that uses the power of sport and community to support refugees who are rebuilding their lives. Based in Amsterdam, the organisation works closely with refugee and host communities around the world, including in Kalobeyei (Kenya), Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh), Lesvos (Greece) and Ter Apel (Netherlands) to build their own sports 'clubhouses' that are hubs for play, entrepreneurship, good health and education. Partners and supporters include UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency and the French football club Paris Saint-Germain. Zaitun Adam Mukwar is an aspiring photographer, originally from Sudan.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Zaitun Adam Mukwar, and am Nubian, a tribe in Sudan. I am 19 years old. I have lived in Kalobeyei since 2016 with my aunt. I am a Form 2 student in a school called Bright Star Integrated Secondary School here in Kalobeyei Settlement. I am a photographer and I post videos and photos.

KLABU helps me to improve on my skills like making videos of people playing football, taking photographs, and to know more about football. I started taking photos and videos in March 2022 and we post them on @humans.with.stories. The channel was created by the football media platform 433. They visited us to record a story about a player from Kalobeyei (“The new Neymar Jr. from South Sudan”). They helped me gain experience in taking photos and videos.

I did not play football before I came to Kenya, but I liked watching and supporting football clubs on TV. It is amazing to watch big teams play.

I left my country because of war and a lack of good education, because all the schools were closed. Nobody was allowed to go to school because there was serious fighting, so I came here to learn and to get a bright future. I want to help my country and other countries.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

I took photos of youth playing football in the KLABU centre and showing off their talent and their skills. I wanted to show that youth are developing their talents and skills through playing football and that they are interested in gaining more knowledge and football skills. It shows that youth are carrying the name of KLABU in Kalobeyei - KLABU gives us a platform (and carries your name) to become well-known by the community and also around the world.

There is a boy named Michael Jagod, he is a Nubian. He is 20 years old and is still studying as a Form 4 student, he came here in 2016. He dreams to become one of the best players in the world. That is what he kept saying since he was young and he loves football so much. His football team is Manchester City, and he claims that he wants to become like Ronaldo. He is always playing and learning more football skills.

What do you enjoy about photography?

What I like about photography is the background stories behind the person in a photo. You can show them in a certain setting to tell something about them. Besides portraits I also like taking photos that show the beauty of nature. Taking photos and viewing them afterwards helps me in the process of growing as a creative person.

Moreover, I also like the fact that you can capture a moment that will evoke a certain memory when you look at it after some time has passed. This also helps to learn from certain experiences. Sometimes when I look at photos, I recall memories that remind me of mistakes that I will not do again.

Additionally, I like to share memories with my friends. It is a hobby for me because it gives me purpose and also some sort of regularity in my everyday life. I also like the reactions to my photos when I post them and see the comments of my friends. It makes me happy when they also share them on their channels.

KLABU can help me to become more well-known, like other professional photographers. KLABU introduces me to a worldwide community. Before, even in my local community, very few people knew me and my photos. I really appreciate their support. Through KLABU I also learned to take photos and videos of sports like football, netball, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and badminton.

Why is football important to you and your community?

Football helps the community in many ways. Some of the youth are being sponsored because of playing football which gives hope to the rest to practise more. It can also help youth to be famous and well known and have friends from different countries and tribes.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

I  imagine myself being a professional photographer one day. That is what I have been dreaming of and wishing for my whole life.

I also want to become a businesswoman and work with KLABU members. I want to help youth improve their football skills and help them to play amongst the best teams in the world.