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August 9, 2024
On August 12 the world will recognize International Youth Day, which brings global attention to youth-related issues and celebrates young people’s potential as partners in today’s global society. In recognition, this month we are highlighting sport for development organizations in our network that are serving young people through sport.
Today, meet GOALS Haiti – a Sport Together Fund grantee partner – that provides a lifeline to young Haitians through soccer and education programs. We spoke to Executive Director Kathy McAllister and Programs Director Kenneth Dossous about how the organization is supporting young people through the ongoing political and economic instability, violence and the aftermath of multiple earthquakes and hurricanes.
GOALS (Global Outreach and Love of Soccer) was founded following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the country in 2010. The nonprofit uses the sport to develop young people’s leadership skills, engaging them in community service and educational activities to improve their quality of life and provide opportunities to have fun. GOALS runs programs in Destra and villages near Léogane, rural areas where the needs are the most severe and resources are extremely limited.
Repeated natural distasters have destabilized a country already stricken by poverty, conflict and political unrest. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, nearly half of the country’s 11.4 million people require humanitarian assistance. Additionally, escalating gang violence and kidnappings due to the pandemic and the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse have plummeted the country into turmoil. To date, gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince and key roads leading to the rest of the country. As a result, many Haitians have fled and nearly 580,000 people have been displaced – making it the country with the largest number of displacements globally due to crime-related violence.
“The current situation in Haiti is very challenging and critical. In many areas, kids don’t have the opportunity to even be kids. Many kids aren’t going to school and don’t have safe spaces to play. That’s where GOALS comes in – to give kids the opportunity to learn and play soccer, support their development and importantly provide a safe space for them to forget their daily troubles,” said Dossous.
GOALS’ core programs address gender equality, inclusion, anti-bullying and self-care for girls and boys aged 8 to 18. It takes a strong focus on leadership and education as it sees these skills as crucial to helping Haitian youth become agents of change within their communities. The organization’s approach is holistic and multigenerational in nature, ensuring that progress is sustainable and rooted in community needs. And to address the ongoing climate crises, GOALS also runs programs on environmental stewardship in affected communities.
Around 350 boys and girls participate in its programs daily and outreach to players’ families, schools and other soccer clubs impacts an additional 7,000 people. At GOALS, kids receive coaching, equipment, food, water, mentoring and team support to practice and play soccer competitively. Since its inception, the nonprofit has helped 2,723 children, distributed 22,419 pieces of soccer gear and had 48 participants be recruited and trained with Haitian national soccer teams.
“The sport naturally encourages teamwork, responsibility and leadership among young players, empowering them to take initiative both on and off the field. Furthermore, organizing and participating in soccer activities brings communities together, promoting social cohesion and collective wellbeing – crucial in areas often isolated by geographical and economic barriers,” said McAllister. GOALS plans to celebrate International Youth Day by bringing together its 12 teams for a youth-led field day.
For many Haitian youth, GOALS is the only access they have to playing sport, particularly soccer which is the country’s most popular sport. The organization credits its success to working in close collaboration with community leaders and individual family members who best know their needs. As a trusted member of the community, the nonprofit is creating natural pathways for youth leadership through purposeful play, assistant coach training opportunities and alumni initiatives.
“Strong leadership skills and a solid foundation enable these youth to tackle pressing local challenges, drive social and economic development and break the cycle of poverty…More than half of Haiti’s population is under the age of 24, which means mobilizing young people will have a dramatic effect on the future of the country,” McAllister emphasized.
“Without intervention and change these kids’ lives are in jeopardy,” said Dossous. “We know that sport has the power to make positive change and can be used therapeutically in many ways. In a country where so many people love the game of soccer, GOALS is making a real difference, and we want to continue to do so with your help.” He shared that the public can help support GOALS’s mission by volunteering, donating and raising awareness.
18-year-old participant, Alex, shared on the lifeline that GOALS provides: “Having the opportunity to still be able to play soccer during the insecurity in my country means a lot. I know for sure that without it I would be very depressed. When I’m on the field I’m free and happy and that’s what matters to me.”
GOALS is a recent grantee partner of Beyond Sport’s Sport Together Fund which helps support nonprofits, sports clubs and collectives who are assisting communities facing conflict, displacement, human rights violations and climate change disasters.
McAllister explains that being part of the Fund has been a huge boost for the organization: “It not only affirms the value and impact of our work but also enhances our capacity to reach and positively influence more lives through sport…It is inspiring to be supported by a network that shares our commitment to leveraging sports for social good.”
Learn more about the Sport Together Fund here.
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