Foam x KLABU:
Strength Away From Home
Foam and KLABU proudly present the exhibition Strength Away From Home in a new edition of Galerie Mercatorplein in Amsterdam West. The exhibition reflects on the courage and resilience of the millions of refugees worldwide who are forced to leave their familiar surroundings and build a new life far from home. The groundbreaking portraits are created by photographer Coco Olakunle to change the narrative surrounding refugees and to amplify their personal voices. She captured the KLABU community in refugee camps such as Kalobeyei (Kenya) and Lesbos (Greece) through close collaboration, giving refugees control over how they are portrayed.
Unity Day for World Refugee Week 2024
Join us on Saturday 22 June from 12.00 - 17.00 hrs for a festive afternoon on Mercatorplein, filled with photography workshops and sports activities with professional athletes such as Soraya Verhoeve (Ajax) and Muna Dahouk (Olympic Refugee Team). Refugees, other newcomers and local Amsterdammers are warmly invited while enjoying food, drinks, activities and music. Entrance is free and no registration is needed.
On 22 June, you can also attend a photography workshop at the OBA on Mercatorplein. Coco Olakunle will take participants through her process, in which making real contact and capturing connections are central. Afterwards, participants will have a chance to exhibit their work at the OBA on Mercatorplein. The workshop lasts 1.5 hours and there will be two sessions, at 13.30 and 15.30 hrs. Each group consists of 20 people and no registration is needed.
12.00 - 17.00 hrs
Apenkooi / Dubball / Exhibition / Music / Snacks from Hummus and Habibis / Drinks
13.00 - 14.00 hrs
Football with Soraya Verhoeve (Ajax)
13.30 - 14.45 hrs
Photography workshop by Coco Olakunle
14.00 - 15.00 hrs
Apenkooi with Muna Dahouk (Olympic Refugee Team)
14:15, 15.00 & 15.45 hrs
3x Boogieland boxing workshop
15.30 - 16.45 hrs
Photography workshop by Coco Olakunle
About KLABU and Coco Olakunle
In a world more fragmented than ever before, notions of place and belonging have gained unprecedented relevance. KLABU is an Amsterdam-based nonprofit organisation that supports and encourages refugees worldwide through sports, with a mission to become a sports club that can change the world. KLABU believes that sport creates perspective and offers refugees dignity, hope, pride and self-confidence, bridging differences and creating connections.
Coco Olakunle is a self-taught image-maker who explores social issues and examines their role in photography. She has been closely involved with KLABU since 2019.
Galerie Mercatorplein is made possible by Gemeente Amsterdam, Stadsdeel West.
Special thanks to KLABU who granted the image rights for this exhibition.
Foam x KLABU:
Strength Away From Home