“More than a refugee”: a new documentary illustrating how the power of sport and Barça can improve the lives of refugees

FC Barcelona and its Foundation, alongside the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR/ACNUR), have launched the documentary short “More than a refugee. More than a club”, which highlights the role sport can play in supporting refugees. Debuting at the Guadalajara International Film Festival, this moving film puts a human face on the stories of thousands of young refugees who have found safety in the African nation of Uganda and shows how sport and the Barça name can help create a sense of community and belonging.

The documentary can be viewed on FC Barcelona's streaming platform Barça One and on YouTube.

Attending the premiere at the prestigious international film festival was Mexican actor and UNHCR/ACNUR Goodwill Ambassador Alfonso Herrera, who provided the documentary’s narration, as well as FC Barcelona Foundation Director General Dr. Marta Segú and Giovanni Lepri, representing UNHCR/ACNUR in Mexico.

“Sport can transform lives. This documentary shows how, through play and the power Barça has, young refugees can rediscover their confidence and a sense of belonging,” said Dr. Segú. The lives of many of these refugees have been blighted by violence, conflict, discrimination or persecution.

Uganda, the African country currently hosting the most refugees (1.8 million), is the setting for an audiovisual piece combining both sensitivity and a stark warning. On one hand, it illustrates how sport and the magic of Barça can help overcome trauma, while on the other, it raises the alarm about the increase in humanitarian emergencies in the region and the cutbacks that have hit international aid efforts.

“More than a refugee” enables viewers to see and experience first-hand the results and impact of the alliance formed in 2022 between FC Barcelona and UNHCR/ACNUR, whose logo adorns the back of the women’s and men’s first-team football shirts.

The UNHCR/ACNUR collaboration enables inclusive and integrating sporting activities to be carried out with refugee children and young people in four countries: Uganda, El Salvador, Türkiye and Malaysia. Projects which, in Barça’s case, transform the words ‘More than a club’ into a reality.