GOALS has had a great start to the new year. In fact, this is easily the organization’s best January ever. True, this is in part due to the fact that GOALS launched 6 short months ago, in June 2010. It is amazing how quickly GOALS has made an impact in Haiti during this time.

Our after-school program continues to attract about 200 kids a day. These players, aged 7-19 years old, are now training and competing as GOALS teams. This month, GOALS also launched its first two neighborhood soccer clubs. The two teams add another 50 soccer fanatics to the GOALS family in the Leogane region of Haiti. Even better, more teams throughout Haiti, from Jeremie to Cite Soleil, are reaching out to GOALS to work together.

Our spring term in Destra kicked off with a big community event. The Dream Team and GOALS staff emceed the event, which was full of singing, dancing, and laughter. A mother of two GOALS players said, “I would like to thank GOALS for its work in Destra. Now, at home, my little girls say we have to wash our hands so we don’t get cholera!” These kids are effective, fun-loving ambassadors to their families and they’re doing great work in their community.

No doubt this is a common sentiment for the parents out there, but I’m stunned at how fast the GOALS kids are growing up. Every time I see them, I could swear they’re taller. And our pack of active kids means we always need more equipment!

GOALS would like to send a big thank you out to Benjy, from Seattle, who organized his friends to collect soccer equipment and donated it to GOALS. Tiago, from Brazil, came to Destra with huge suitcases of donated equipment in Haiti’s flag colors. The kids could barely contain their excitement, and their commitment to the GOALS program just keeps growing.

Thanks to all of our enthusiastic donors, supporters and volunteers, kids in rural Haiti can play soccer with basic materials and equipment, in good health and full of joy. Don’t be a stranger! To learn more, get involved, or get in touch, email us at contact@goalshaiti.org.