8 days till school starts!

School starts in Haiti next Monday, and it's an exciting time! Tailors are busy sewing school uniforms, a few lucky kids are walking around with shiny new backpacks and the local markets are full of pencils and notebooks. But if you're a parent who can't afford tuition fees, this can be the worst time of year, and if you're a child who won't be able to go to school, it's a time of worry, frustration and despair.

GOALS provides tuition support to 28 young men and women who have demonstrated that they are the best of the best among students in Leogane, Haiti. These children have worked hard to stay in school, despite all the hurdles of growing up in poverty. They bike or walk across muddy roads for an hour or more; they sit in hot, sweaty and cramped school buildings in the heat of the day, and sometimes, their families go without eating in order to afford tuition costs.

They are well deserving of our help, and I hope you'll agree that they're also deserving of yours.

Two very generous donors have offered a matching grant to help us make a last-ditch effort to keep our commitment of helping these 28 boys and girls graduated high school. Why a matching grant? These two supporters are ready and willing to donate up to $2500, but they want to inspire more people to give, in order to double their impact!

From now until September 8th, every dollar you donate to our Dream Team school tuition fund will be doubled, thanks to these fabulous supporters.

Click here to help send children in Haiti to school.

Meet our students
See photos and read their stories in their own words below. I hope they'll inspire you as much as they inspire me!

Boys:
Andre
Jean Paul
Steevenson
Kervens
Sondy
Alex
John-Addy
Reginald
Mackendy
Delson
Oscar
Olsen 

Girls:
Gregolie
Faniola
Mirlene
Christophane
Dinya
Lidia
Elcie
Junia
Fedeline
Bettina
Marquise
Joselene

Not sure how much to give? Even $10 or $20 will help send these children to school, but it you'd like to give more, here's a rough breakdown of costs:

$35 - School uniform
$50 - Books for the year
$75 - Bicycle for kids in rural areas
$125 - Transportation for the year (some kids can't ride bikes)
$350 - Tuition for the year

As always, thank you for believing in a better future for the children of Haiti with GOALS.

A video detailing the reason for the GOALS 2012 Winter Ed Campaign and the plan of action. For further information about the campaign and to donate check out http://www.crowdrise.com/goalsedfund2013 To learn more about GOALS Haiti visit www.GoalsHaiti.org To meet our Dream Team Members Check out www.nationaldreamteam.wordpress.com For a more in-depth look at some of the challenges our kids face check out our next video at http://vimeo.com/54660218 Our final link is a message from the founder and director of GOALS detailing exactly what the Winter Ed campaign will allow us to provde the communities we serve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96_kjMBoeEI *The music in the video is Timoun Yo Graciously provided by a great Haitian Musician Belo, if you enjoyed the music it and more can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Référence-Explicit/dp/B001EBW24G/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1

 
 

Meet Olsen

I was still lying in bed last Saturday morning when there was a knock on my door. I got up, and there was Olsen, with a huge grin on his face. "Jolinda," he said, "I passed!"

Less than 20% of Haitians ever have the chance to attend high school, and due to the low quality of education, less than half of those who enroll will pass their national state exams to receive their high school diploma.

But that is not Olsen's story. Olsen passed. Olsen graduated high school. And GOALS is incredibly proud of this remarkable young man. Of course, we've always been proud of Oslen.

Donate now to support the GOALS school scholarship program

Olsen comes from Darbonne,  a peri-urban area which saw an influx of tent communities spring up after the earthquake, further stressing the already limited resources and increasing instability and insecurity.

Though he doesn’t like spending time at home, Olsen, a goalie, has flourished, at GOALS. He demonstrates both his leadership skills and appreciation for his scholarship by being the first person to volunteer for special projects. This past year, his peers elected him Vice-President of the Dream Team, our school scholarship youth council, and he volunteered to help make sure younger children in his neighborhood made it safely to and from the soccer field. 

As a testament to his efforts to better himself, Olsen always asks GOALS staff to speak English with him instead of Haitian Creole, and he's the only student who wrote his scholarship application letter in English.Last year, Olsen was recognized by his school for having the second highest grades in his class, a true testament to the benefit a scholarship through the GOALS program - which supports holistic youth development academically, socially and nutritionally -  can have.

As a soccer player and a youth leader, Olsen has always said he'd like to work for GOALS after finishing his education, and this summer, he couldn't wait any longer, and decided to open up his own GOALS site, gathering younger children in his neighborhood to lead soccer activities during the school break.All of us at GOALS are incredibly proud of Olsen, and if you've donated to our Dream Team school scholarship fund either this year or in past years, we invite you to share in that pride. Give yourself a pat on the back and feel good. Because we are. And you can bet Olsen is!

Every single one of our Dream Team scholarship students is just as dedicated and hard-working as Olsen, and GOALS is committed to giving each of them the opportunity to graduate high school too. Sondy pulls all-nighters, even though he has no electricity at his house. Junia and Steevenson go to school even on days when they have nothing to eat. Bettina will walk several miles to school, even when the roads are muddy.

These kids deserve a chance to go to school to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Please consider making a donation to the GOALS Dream Team scholarship fund to support that hope for a better future for Haiti.

 
 

Despite chikungunya, it's a summer of health at GOALS!

Despite the fact that every single one of our coaches, educators and program managers were struck with a nasty new mosquito-borne virus called chikungunya which causes high fevers and painful body aches, it's been a summer of health, here at GOALS in Leogane, Haiti.

What do you do when nearly everyone around you is struck with a painful, incurable illness like chikungunya? GOALS responded in full force (once we could walk again, that is!). We launched a new partnership with Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), to transmit critical messages about the causes, symptoms and treatment of this new-to-Haiti disease, as well as other illnesses carried by mosquitoes, such as dengue and malaria. Our partnership continues this summer as all of our kids are enrolled in MSF's intense 2-month health outreach training, where they're learning about hygiene and handwashing, nutrition, and more.

Check out this cute video of some of our younger kids singing a song they learned about mosquitoes:

MSF has been thrilled at the way GOALS is able to mobilize huge numbers of people to receive these vital health messages, even in remote areas. It’s all thanks, of course, to our network of soccer coaches who have become important community leaders!

Medical team

In June, we held two mobile clinics which treated nearly 400 patients. It was our first community-wide mobile clinic in the village of Terrasonson, and our soccer coaches stepped up to help organize and run the clinic. We’re very proud to see how they’re becoming true community leaders and role models for their teams. Thanks to April at HaitiAustin, who brought a dentist to the village of Destra for the first time ever. He was certainly busy! Along with health, discussing and brainstorming ways to prevent violence against women has been a theme at GOALS this summer.

Together, the kids at both CarrefourCroix and Terrasonson prepared and performed a special skit with the theme of gender-based and domestic partner violence, modeling for the benefit of both girls AND boys that gender-based violence is unacceptable. Such a great learning experience! We’re hoping to take this show on the road soon, to perform for other young people and their communities.

Along with health and preventing violence against women and girls, it's always soccer season, here at GOALS!

In July, we were incredibly lucky to host Coach Eamon from UC Berkeley and Marin Soccer Academy, who spent a week mentoring our coaches both as a group and individually to teach them new skills, drills and coaching techniques. It was such an honor to have someone as skilled as Coach Eamon visiting us! Thanks, Coach!

Bossan girls on the right

We also held an extraordinarily successful one-day girls soccer tournament in June, which saw several hundred girls from 8 teams and three cities participate, along with of course GOALS girls. Our CarrefourCroix girls team came in second place, and the coaches were so proud!

Finally, GOALS kids were recently featured in the French sports magazine, L’Equipe! Check it out!

Behind the scenes, we’ve been strengthening the impact of our ongoing programs and crunching the numbers to measure our impact. For example, at one site, 43% of kids who were underweight moved towards a healthy weight (based on the World Health Organization's recommended BMIs) after just six months of eating healthy meals and playing soccer at GOALS! Stay tuned for more on that coming soon.

Overall, 2014 is turning out to be the year that we achieve some of our long held dreams. Our literacy class is transforming lives, our coaches are turning into strong community leaders, and our first group of scholarship students are graduating high school and working on achieving the next dream of going to university.

All of us here in Haiti have been working hard to achieve these dreams, but of course, none of it would be possible without the support of our generous donors at home. On behalf of all of us here in Haiti on Team GOALS, a huge thank you for your support!

Click here to make a donation. Thank you for your support!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

GOALS staff partnering with and learning from the best in the field

This post is written by GOALS Program Manager, Jean Kendy Estimphil about his experience at the streetfootballworld Youth Leader forum:

First I would like to thank all GOALS and streetfootballworld staff and supporters, in Haiti and abroad for their hard work which helped me get a visa to go to Brazil. That was tough but worth it, and I was proud to represent GOALS during the streetfootballworld international forum!
I traveled on a Wednesday, and arrived in Brazil on Thursday in the morning, as almost everybody else that was invited to the forum. We spent that first day to meet and get to know each other.
In the morning, all the participants met together and each of us made a short presentation of ourselves and our work using soccer for social development. Then we were divided up by groups to work separately on issues important to us. In my group, we talked about gender equality. Each member of the group gave details about how this issue exists within their communities, explained how they are trying to fight for equality between men and women and how they resolve conflicts based on it, and how they use sport to address these problems.
The next day, we had a workshop based on leadership. After we finished working on this, we all played  different sports: soccer, tennis and volleyball. Then, we attended a community soccer match and then watched the Brazil match all together.
We kept working in groups, but this time about change and group challenges. As we (my team) were working on gender equality, we agreed that soccer can eliminate inequality existing between boys and girls. The interesting part of the work was when we discussed the power of soccer and explained how this can happen. At GOALS, for example, we have boys and girls playing together in training and in matches, and the boys support the girls by cheering for them, and volunteering to be a referee at their matches. We play some games to show that boys and girls are equal both in football and in life.
On the morning of the last day, we went to the beach and met Football For Hope, which is a GOALS sponsor and a part of FIFA. In the afternoon, each group had to present their results and conclusions of the two days of workshops. 
For the last night, we had a big party with music at a restaurant. It was nice to spend the last hours with all the participants of the forum and we talked about social issues in our home countries.
Streetfootballworld asked every group to keep talking and to address the subjects we worked on during the Forum when we come back to our countries. The point is to deliver all messages we learnt during those days and share them with our organizations. Now back to GOALS and Haiti, I am supposed to, as the other members of my group, to keep working on gender equality.
The experience in Brasil with Street Football World was a great time. Not only because that was my first time abroad or because it was during the World Cup 2014, but also because I got to meet and know young leaders from different countries.
Many thanks again for your support!
Sincerely,
Jean Kendy Estimphil
GOALS Program Manager

Note: Jean Kendy was selected to participate in the Youth Leader Forum based upon his proven dedication to improving his own life and that of his community and his country to create a better future. Learn more about Jean Kendy

5 reasons to support the GOALS scholarship fund

Did you know that less than a third of children in Haiti attend high school? Education is not free, and many families cannot afford to pay tuition. Each year, GOALS provides some of the brightest and most promising students in Leogane have the chance to go to school with the GOALS Dream Team scholarship program, and we need your help to cover tuition costs for the 2014-2015 school year.

Click here to donate now.

Here's five reasons why you should consider making a donation to help a student in Haiti attend school:

1. Paying for a child's school tuition is one of the easiest and simplest ways anyone can make a significant impact in Haiti, even with a small donation.

2. While we wish all children in Haiti could attend school, we've committed to selecting the children with the greatest need, the strongest leadership potential and a proven dedication to working hard and making changes every day.

Bettina (left) and John Addy

3. As an organization, we're dedicated to using funds wisely for the greatest impact. We didn't even have an office for the first 3 1/2 years - we worked outside and ran for cover when it rained. You might say we're cheap or perhaps "financially conservative", in other words, effective. 

4.  A GOALS scholarship is not actually a gift.First off, the kids work hard just to be eligible for a scholarship, then they work hard to keep it. Along with getting good grades, GOALS regularly meets with school staff to monitor their behavior and attendance. Second, students give back through service and leadership projects. For example they may lead recycling projects or beach clean-ups.

5.  We're committed not just to sending kids to school, but to seeing them graduate. To be clear: our goal is not simply to send kids to school. Our goal is to build a generation of strong, capable, inspired and inspiring leaders who will create change in Haiti, starting in their own lives and within their own communities. Yes, it's as lofty, awesome, and possible as it sounds.

Junia and her lollipop show off her new school books and uniform

Not sure how much to give? Here's a rough breakdown of costs:

  • $35 - School uniform
  • $50 - Books for the year
  • $75 - Bicycle for kids in rural areas
  • $125 - Transportation for the year (some kids can't ride bikes)
  • $350 - Tuition for the year

Go here to donate to GOALS school scholarship fund.

Thank you for believing in a brighter future for the children of Haiti with GOALS!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

GOALS goes to Brazil!

Special announcement! GOALS manager Jean Kendy has been selected to represent Haiti at the Sony/streetfootballworld Future Goals Youth Leaders Forum to take place amongst the excitement of the World Cup in Brazil next week! Jean Kendy's success at overcoming his own personal challenges and his dedication to bettering Haiti earned him a coveted spot at the Forum where he will join with youth leaders from 22 different countries convening to share how they use football to create change around the world. We're already incredibly proud of each member of our local team who serve as role models and leaders in their communities. Having international players such as streetfotballworld and Sony formally acknowledge excellence in our staff just confirms what we already know!

After the devastating earthquake of 2010, Jean Kendy volunteered for several different disaster response organizations, serving as a translator, language instructor, and helping out with whatever needed to be done, all while strengthening his own English and taking the opportunity to develop a variety of job skills that he'd later put to use at GOALS.

Here's an excerpt from Jean Kendy's award-winning application to participate in the Youth Leader Forum:

"I have a lot of experience in my life. I grew up with my grandmother without having mother and father: both passed away. So I had an objective to reach: I wanted to go to school so I could help my country in the future. I wanted to help the youth in my community in order to make them be their own actors of the development of their country. Now I can say my dream came true." 

When asked about how football can be used to create change, Jean Kendy replied that gender equality is one way football can have an impact both locally and globally:

"Gender equality is a big problem in poor countries... Many things are difficult to change because they are cultural habits that take time to evolve. We could achieve a lot but we need to educate people to change their mind and spirits through the generations. I would like to see the next generation have a better comprehension of gender equality. In fact, boys and girls should know better what are their role and responsibilities, and how they can work together to improve the present. For example, washing dishes or taking care of our health is for everyone, girls AND boys.

Football is a bridge that we can use to unite girls and boys, rich and poor people together. In my country, everyone plays or loves soccer...in soccer there is no difference between girls and boys so everyone can play!"

Along with gender equality, Jean Kendy hopes to come back with new ideas about using football to increase food security and decrease hunger as well as gain insight into how young people around the world are using football to change the world. GOALS is incredibly proud of Jean Kendy!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

Win a trip to the World Cup finals in Brazil with GOALS and The Sanneh Foundation!

Save the date!
You could be going to the World Cup finals in Brazil July 13 -15! GOALS is partnering with The Sanneh Foundation (as in soccer legend Tony Sanneh!) to raffle off a trip to Brazil to watch the World Cup final match. The prize includes airfare, hotel and two tickets to the final match. Raffle tickets are $20 each, and the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants.

Proceeds from the raffle will be used to fund our Dream Team scholarship program, which supports dedicated young leaders in Haiti - students like Olsen, Gregolie and Jean Paul -  who would otherwise be unable to afford the tuition costs to attend school.

Want to enter? Raffle tickets are available online here:

World Cup Raffle Tickets: Win a Trip for 2 to the World Cup

We're thrilled to have this exciting partnership with The Sanneh Foundation, both to provide a fun opportunity for GOALS supporters, and, to help us raise money to send our kids to school. Spend $20, get a chance to win a trip to the World Cup, and help a kid in Haiti go back to school. What's not to love? 

Buy a raffle ticket and help kids in Haiti go back to school!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

2014: Our most amazing year yet

Hello from Haiti!
We’re well on our way to having our best and most impactful year yet here at GOALS. Sometimes, it’s easy to see the incredible difference GOALS makes. After all, every single day more than 400 kids eat healthy meals and play soccer and 45 kids attend school, thanks to the support of our generous donors and our dedicated local staff. Sometimes, the impact is subtler, but just as important.

We’re coming up on almost two years without a single teen pregnancy at GOALS, for example, which is an incredible achievement compared to teen pregnancy rates nationwide. This is remarkable proof that with confidence developed on the soccer field and increased access to health care and health education, young people will make positive changes in their own lives, with lasting effects. GOALS proves that given the chance, youth have the power to create a better future for themselves and their communities. We just provide the opportunity.

This is the GOALS model:
Empowering individuals, soccer teams and communities to create their own positive changes.

So, what have we been up to so far this year?

This year, we launched a new literacy program in the village of Destra, where many kids are unable to attend school. Three days a week, 20 kids are learning to read and write at GOALS, and of course, we play a few fun learning games, too. Nearly all of the adults in the village of Destra are extremely low literate.

 

With GOALS literacy classes, we hope to see the day when none of the kids are illiterate. Lofty? Yes. Possible? Very.

 

In March, we partnered with Waves4Water, to provide a simple, portable and easy to use water filtration system. 600 people are now drinking clean water every single day in Destra.

Terrasonson, our newest site, has been working hard to achieve all the benefits of the GOALS program. They've planted a vegetable garden, attended a special “girls-only” clinic day at our partner clinic and the Terrasonson coaches worked hard to develop a three-part health curriculum combining serious lessons with fun soccer games to help the girls learn to make good choices and take charge of their health.

Our Bossan teams have a new compost project, thanks to help from some community volunteers! The team captains leads their teammates in watering and turning the compost pile every few days, and they'll add the compost to their community garden soon. Bossan also played in our first-ever mixed gender soccer match.  It was a close game, and the crowd went wild. The best part of all was watching so many boys and girls play together on the field, demonstrating that girls and boys can both do anything!

But all this fun is not a gift. Kids, parents and communities give back by supporting the program and through ongoing community service. Earlier this year, several GOALS kids visited an orphanage, where they helped out by fetching water, braiding hair and cleaning dishes (and playing soccer with the kids too, of course) and our soccer teams have collected hundreds of plastic bottles to be recycled through our recycling partner.

The Carrefour Croix teams put together a humorous skit about the importance of deworming which they performed for members of the community in April. We want to take the show on the road soon, to educate and encourage more communities to participate in GOALS’ deworming campaigns. I particularly love this, because it’s such a great example of what GOALS is all about:

 

Soccer teams tackling difficult development issues, with youth leading the charge to create lasting change.

 

These are some pretty amazing achievements in just the first half of the year. While we’re always proud of our youth, just as important is how the GOALS program develops strong community leaders, and we've seen our coaches grow so much this year! Our team of coaches in Destra organized and distributed the Waves4Water filters in their community completely independently – not an easy task! We're also proud of our alumni who have been volunteering their time at literacy class, providing one-on-one help for the kids who need it most.

Coach Walker has been saving up to enroll at a university in Port-au-Prince, where he started attending classes part-time, and coach Nadege went back to school this year to get her high school diploma - not an easy task as a mother, a foster parent for her nieces, and a GOALS coach.

We're proud to have such outstanding leaders and role models on our team!

It’s an incredible experience to be a part of all these changes here on the ground in Haiti, but of course, none of it would be possible without the support of donors and supporters such as you. So on behalf of our talented kids, dedicated coaches and local staff, thank you for believing in GOALS and for investing in a better future for kids in Haiti.

Sincerely,
Jolinda Hackett
Executive Director

Click here to make a donation. Thank you for your support!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

One month at GOALS: March by the numbers

Check out what we've been up to recently at GOALS!

Click here to make a donation.

A suggested donation of $35 will provide one week of meals for a soccer team and $110 will sponsor a literacy student.

Thank you for your support and thank you for believing in a better future for Haiti with GOALS. Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our literacy, education, leadership and sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

How to help kids in Haiti without spending a penny

Are you an Amazon shopper?
Shop at Amazon now through March 31st and GOALS will receive a FREE donation of $5 which goes straight to helping kids in Haiti at no extra cost to you! Just shop through this link or go to smile.amazon.com and search for "Global Outreach and Love of Soccer".

Here's more ways to help GOALS (for free!):

1. If you're a big internet shopper: Save that link! Amazon always donates a portion of your purchase to GOALS when you register at this link. Register today to donate .5% of future purchases to help kids in Haiti with GOALS. It's absolutely free.

2. If you like coffee and donuts: You can help kids in Haiti every time you have a cup of coffee! Here's how. Sign up with GoodSwipe and earn up to 3% cash back for GOALS at thousands of shops, restaurants and movie theaters nationwide (including Dunkin' Donuts).

3. If you spend a lot of time online: Switch from Google to GoodSearch and you're on your way to earning free money for GOALS! Sign up here and search for "GOALS Haiti".

4. If you have a blog: Blog about GOALS! Tell your readers why you love GOALS (and tell them to register at Amazon Smile!). Here are some examples:

GOALS by Avery Doninger

Now who's awesome? by Portzers in Haiti

Friends of Haiti, by Kreyolicious

5. If you've got tons of Facebook friends: How many of your Facebook friends "like" GOALS? Find out at facebook.com/goalshaiti and invite your friends to "like" our page by clicking "Invite". Easy? Yes. Free? You bet!

6. If you're trying to clean out your garage: Through their GivingWorks program, you can donate a percentage of your eBay auctions to GOALS! We've raised enough money to feed an entire soccer team for a week from eBay donations this year. As a bonus, eBay highlights your listing with a special icon, making it stand out and be seen. Just select "GOALS Haiti" at givingworks.ebay.com.

7. If your company has a matching gifts program: Ok, so this one isn't completely free. Many companies (including big names like Microsoft and Boeing) will match employee donations dollar for dollar, doubling your impact. Is your company one of them? Find out!

World Water Day 2014
600 people are drinking clean, safe water thanks to a GOALS and Waves for Water partnership. 
See more pictures.

Literacy at GOALS! 
Our literacy program is in full swing! Kids are learning to read, playing fun learning games and gaining skills to last a lifetime. 

Learn more about literacy at GOALS or sponsor a student.

Public health outreach
See the pictures from GOALS' latest deworming campaign to help get rid of intestinal worms which contribute to malnutrition and other illnesses. Plus, check out one way GOALS makes learning about serious issues FUN!

Click here to make a donation.

A suggested donation of $35 will provide one week of meals for a soccer team and $110 will sponsor a literacy student.

Thank you for your support and thank you for believing in a better future for Haiti with GOALS. Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

Questions? Send us an email: contact@goalshaiti.org

Leveling the playing field: Using soccer to tackle illiteracy in Haiti

Update: Would you like to sponsor a GOALS literacy learner? Please click here to sponsor a literacy learner. A suggested donation of $45 will provide one week of meals for our literacy class, while $110 will sponsor a student for the entire program, including books, materials and teacher support. Thank you for your support!

Prophet, age 14, shows off the "vowels" ball used in GOALS literacy class. This is the first time Prophet has ever been to school.

GOALS has always believed in the power of soccer to change lives and to inspire young people to achieve more. Now, through a new literacy program, we’re pushing the love of the game further than ever.

Education is at the core of GOALS’ soccer programs, through our health seminars, weekly classes, school tuition support, and directly on the field with educational soccer games. But despite the impact that all of these critical programs make, the fact remains that many Haitian children are unable to attend school. School fees are costly, and therefore unaffordable for poorer families in rural areas.

Parents must often choose between feeding their children or sending them to school.

According to UNICEF, 50% of children enroll in primary school, and just 19.5% enroll in secondary school. Only 52.9% of adults in Haiti are literate. The negative effects of low education are long-term. The World Literacy Foundation says that “higher literacy levels enable people to overcome the barriers of poverty and disease.” Children born to literate mothers have higher survival rates, and not surprisingly, literate adults earn more than those who cannot read and write.

By using soccer as a platform for development, GOALS is able to reach children who are left behind by conventional educational systems, offering a second chance for children who live in underserved communities. That’s why we’re incorporating literacy training into our existing sports and education programs.

For these boys and girls, becoming literate will simply be the first step toward achieving their full potential. After holding several community-wide meetings, we’ve enrolled 25 students into our first literacy course. Most of these children haven’t attended school for several years or more, and few of them have literate parents.

Guerlancie

Guerlancie, for example, is only 11 years old, but has already fallen well behind her peers. After both her parents died, she went to live with her elderly grandmother who can’t afford school fees. Guerlancie can write her name and form a few letters, but she can’t quite form them into words. Even though she can’t yet write, Guerlancie is remarkably well spoken. When asked about her literacy skills, she replied:
"I want to be able to communicate with people. You should be able to read and write so that you can speak up at meetings and be a part of society. It’s good for the village if people can read and write. It will be good for the future of my village."

Our goal is to give Guerlancie and every single child in her community another chance.

Through literacy, GOALS will be able to level the playing field, giving these boys and girls their first opportunities to improve their own lives and, like Guerlancie says, “to be a part of society.”

Help kids in Haiti learn to read and write with GOALS! 
A suggested donation of $45 will provide one week of meals for our literacy learners, while $110 will sponsor a student for the entire program, including books, materials and teacher support.

GOALS coaches using soccer for social impact

In January, GOALS welcomed Coaches Across Continents (CAC) to Leogane. This is the second year of our 3-year partnership with CAC, and it’s only getting better! It was a busy week, with lots of surprises (and dancing!) on the field. The CAC trainers are experts and innovators in the field of sport-for-development (as well as fellow Beyond Sport award winners!), and we’re thrilled to be able to partner with them.

GOALS and CAC share one key philosophy: We believe that every single child can benefit from playing soccer, whether they are kicking a ball for the very first time or they’re a team captain who scores in every match. Every day at GOALS, hundreds of kids are eating better, learning to take care of their health and developing confidence and leadership skills that will last a lifetime, regardless of their talent on the field. At GOALS and with CAC, every child can live stronger, healthier, and smarter through the love of the game.

The CAC program teaches coaches how to use soccer to address issues relevant to the unique local cultural settings in which they work. At GOALS, we focused on gender equality, conflict resolution, sexual health, and other life skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. All of these lessons are packaged in a way that lead coaches to develop confidence in their personal coaching style while developing tactics and strategies for winning on the field and in life.

Each morning, the CAC trainers helped our coaches remember what it’s like to be a kid. At each four-hour training session they were required to work hard and play hard, and they stepped up to meet the challenge – especially when it came to playing hard! There was lots of dancing, a few karate moves, and plenty of laughter. But most importantly, the CAC team taught our coaches a serious lesson with every single football game.

This year, we were proud to have an increased number of women participating. Currently, 4 out of GOALS’ 13 local staff members are women (compared to just 1 out of 14 last year!). Empowering our staff is a critical part of the GOALS model, as it’s our local coaches who are supporting and developing our hundreds of young players every single day.

Want to see more? Head on over to the GOALS Facebook page for more pictures, and check out the Coaches Across Continents Facebook page and Coach Meg's blog post about her time with GOALS for even more behind-the-scenes stories from our adventures!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

Becoming a Champion: The story of Esteri Joseph

For nearly two years, our Facebook icon has been the grinning face of a skinny little girl from the rural village of Destra, proudly clutching her first ever pair of cleats. This is her story of becoming a GOALS champion...

2010: In the beginning
When GOALS was just beginning in Leogane, Esteri was a shy little girl, underweight but with a big smile. When GOALS came to her remote seaside village in 2010, she had never played football before, and, by all accounts, she wasn’t very good! But GOALS could always count on her love for the game, her kindness, patience and determination. Amongst all the kids, she stood out for her big dreams to become a football player, which motivated her to work hard and come to practice every day. She grew up with GOALS and with football in her life and day after day, she slowly became stronger, healthier, and a better football player.

Before too long, Esteri became one of the best players on her team. She came to soccer practice every day, and participated in all of GOALS’ activities. Her belief in herself and the GOALS program soon paid off.

Esteri in 2010. Scroll down to see what Esteri looks like today!

2014: Four years later
Four years later, Esteri is no longer training with GOALS. Why? Recently, while leading her under-12 girls’ team to a second place victory in a national tournament, Esteri was scouted and recruited by the Haitian Football Federation to represent Leogane at their training camp and school in Port-au-Prince. Along with six other GOALS girls, Esteri now receives a free education and a chance to play football with the national youth girls team, as long as she maintains her commitment to both education and football, and works hard on the field and in the classroom.

In a country where 80% of the population never attends high school, Esteri is on track to achieve an incredible dream. We’re proud of Esteri’s continued success, and even prouder when the Haitian Football Federation directors call us to let us know how well the GOALS girls are doing in their program!

Esteri proves that hard work and a commitment to education can bring success through football. But more than that, she is at the forefront of a growing movement of girls and women’s participation, achievement and empowerment through sports.

Esteri now serves as a role model for other boys and girls both in her village and across the country, bringing hope to the future of girls’ football and hope for the future of her village.

Esteri, on the right, shows off the trophy her team won in a national youth tournament in 2013.

Congratulations, little GOALS champion!

This post was written by GOALS coordinator Emilio Jean Paul and translated into English. 

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

The top 10 moments of GOALS' year

Picking just ten highlights for this list was challenging. After all, every single day, hundreds of kids become a little healthier, stronger, and more confident through GOALS' soccer, nutrition and education programs which change lives in Haiti through soccer every day. A few things that just narrowly missed making the top ten? Two new composting projects, Joelle's week of bookmaking, Connor's karate class and bringing soccer and health lessons to two orphanages. 2013 may have been our best year yet, but it's nothing compared to what we anticipate achieving in 2014!

Let's get to it. Here's our top ten favorite moments of 2013:

10. Hiring two new women!

We started the year with one awesome female coach, and we’re so proud to be ending the year with not one, not two, but THREE fantastic female coaches and role models for our youth. Welcome, coaches Dina and Mildred!

 

9. Winning this GIANT trophy

Of course, we love trophies, but this trophy also won a spot for 7 of our girls to attend the national youth football training academy. Along with the chance to play football for the national team, these girls now receive a free education through the academy.

 

In partnership with a local medical clinic and visiting doctors, 165 girls met privately with nurses to learn about their health, 325 people received medical care through our mobile medical clinics, hundreds of community members were screened for chronic diseases, and 400 kids received deworming medication!

 

7. Alumni beach clean-ups

One of our best measures of success is when our programs continue to grow completely organically. GOALS alumni Vicky has formed his own local soccer team, and we loved seeing him and his team lead community beach clean-up days this year!

 

6. Giving toothbrushes to these two

Our traveling outreach program brought GOALS' unique and fun approach to health, hygiene, and community empowerment to four remote sites this year, including the island of Ile Gonave, where these two girls (and hundreds more!) received health lessons, a day of sports activities designed to empower young women, and of course, toothbrushes!

 

5. This superstar goalie

Meet Olsen, one of our star scholarship students. At the end of the school year, Olsen's school director called to congratulate GOALS. Why? Upon receiving his school's national exam scores, Olsen scored second highest in the entire school. Now that's something to be proud of.

 

4. Football for Hope + Beyond Sport + Beyond Soccer

Winning the 2012 Beyond Sport Best New Project Award and joining the streetfootballworld network opened up new doors for GOALS in 2013, including the chance to represent our work on the international stage alongside thousands of athletes and visionaries at Beyond Sport, Beyond Soccer and the Football for Hope Exchange Program. We're proud to be recognized as one of the leading sport-for-development organizations in the world and we're humbled to have the opportunity to learn from other innovators in the field.

 

3. Coach training with Coaches Across Continents

Coaches Across Continents is an award-winning program that's used all around the world to teach lifeskills, health lessons, gender empowerment and conflict resolution on the pitch. Along with these important lessons, it also teaches some fancy footwork skills and it even taught us a "Gangnam Style" game (remember Gangnam Style?) We're thrilled that the GOALS Haiti / Coaches Across Continents love-fest, er, fantastic partnership, will continue on in 2014 and grow to reach even beyond our coaches and programs in Leogane. Stay tuned!

 

2. Our first mixed gender match!

Mixed gender teams and matches are a great way to empower young women through sport, proving to both players and onlookers alike that girls can do anything! In 2013, we added our second mixed-gender team and held our first mixed gender match in front of hundreds of parents and fans. They loved it! We're looking forward to adding our third mixed-gender team in 2014, and holding plenty more mixed matches!

 

1. Announcing plans to construct a GOALS community center!

If there was one blog post we could wait to hit ”publish” on this year, it was announcing our plans to construct a new community center in the rural village of Destra. Shaping this dream was a 2013 highlight, but we've yet to reach our fundraising goal to make it a reality in 2014. Please consider contributing to this step on the path to recovery for one rural village in Haiti. Your gift will help transform the village of Destra and provide a huge boost for the local economy, and  every dollar donated makes a big difference.

Click here to make a donation.

Thank you for your support and for believing in a better future for Haiti with GOALS. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for more updates directly from the field in Haiti. Happy new year!

Special announcement! GOALS welcomes Jolinda Hackett as new Executive Director

Jolinda, Kona and Board President Ken Sommers

Dear friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to announce that Jolinda Hackett will officially join GOALS as Executive Director starting January 1st.

Jolinda has been making a difference on the ground in Haiti for over three years now. Since joining GOALS in January 2012, she has proven to be an exceptional asset. She is fluent in Haitian Creole, extraordinarily impactful, and takes on oversized challenges with a smile. Not only has she weathered hurricanes with us (two, in fact!), but she worked alongside our coaches and players to lead clean-up efforts afterwards as well. (Read more in our 2013 Annual Report here).

As a program manager and then Country Director, Jolinda has been responsible for many of our proudest moments, including winning the Beyond Sport award in London, partnering with Coaches Across Continents for coach training and the Klinik Lasante for health services, and sending some of our most talented girls to the national youth football training academy.

Mixed-gender teams and matches are one way Jolinda has increased GOALS' capacity to empower young women through sport.

I can promise there will be many more exciting announcements to come in the upcoming months thanks to Jolinda's ongoing hard work to deepen our impact. Keep an eye out for news on a new GOALS community education center and an expanded rural outreach program.

As I wrote earlier this year, Jolinda has elevated our programs to a higher level. When I started GOALS in 2010, it was always my dream for the programs to be permanent and sustainable in Haiti,  whether or not I was physically present. Jolinda has been managing all in-country operations since April of this year, and her results speak for themselves.We're incredibly lucky to have her on board, and I am confident that with her leadership, GOALS will continue to provide opportunities for thousands of kids and their families.

While I'll be stepping down as Executive Director, I will continue to serve GOALS as a member of the Board of Directors, and I'm looking forward to working with Jolinda as we take  GOALS to the next level. To learn more about what else I personally have planned coming up, click here.

Please join me in officially congratulating Jolinda and welcoming her to the helm of Team GOALS!

Sincerely,
Kona Shen

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

Help make our holiday dreams come true

In 2010, GOALS began with some very big dreams.
We dreamed that kids who roamed their village barefoot and hungry would have shoes, food and clean water. We dreamed that through access to health information and increased confidence, girls would be able to finish school without getting pregnant. We dreamed that a generation of youth would dream bigger and achieve more through the power of football.

Over the past three years, communities, soccer coaches and youth leaders in Haiti have come together with the support of soccer fans and donors from around the world to continue to achieve these dreams. Our response to these great achievements? Dream even bigger.

Today, we’re proud to announce GOALS’ biggest dream yet.

Coaches, parents, and kids have always asked us for a safe place for their community. A place where kids can study and learn. A place to worship and a place to shelter down during hurricanes, storm surges and flash flooding. A place where doctors can visit patients and a place where teen girls can learn about their health.

After months of planning, that dream is close to being possible in Destra, and we need you to help make it a reality.

In partnership with the Building Goodness Foundation, GOALS will break ground on a new community education center in the rural village of Destra in early 2014.

Destra is particularly remote. With no cars in the village, the nearest paved road is a 30-minute walk. Aside from a small vendor or two, there is no commerce and no jobs, no schools and no churches. Not only will the community education center provide a safe space for GOALS programs and community activities, it will also bring jobs, commerce, and new opportunities to Destra.

Thanks to commitments from GOALS’ Board of Directors, 100% of your donation always goes directly to support our sport, education and health programs in Haiti. Every dollar that you donate will make a huge difference and help make this dream become a reality.

A busy week at GOALS

It seems like every week is always busy at GOALS, but that’s just because our teams are trying to accomplish so many things! This week was no exception. We started off with a day-long outreach program at an orphanage in the neighboring city of Grand Goave.

Coach Emilio and Nadege led a group of about 30 kids in a day of GOALS soccer and education programming, including a community clean-up and recycling lesson, talent show (you can still be a superstar even if you don't play soccer!), hygiene lesson and handwashing practice, and a special adaptation of a Coaches Across Continents game to lead a discussion about childrens' rights and protection, Adebayor for Child Protection.

Trash doesn't belong on our soccer field!

The orphanage staff want to keep offering soccer activities to their kids, so we’ve invited them to a special coach training program and challenged them to a match! We’ve got lots more pics from our orphanage outreach day on our Facebook page here, and you can also read more about GOALS' orphanage outreach on their blog here.

But that was just the beginning of the fun this week! Last month, our sites all had a competition to see who could have the most participants at each of their activities – soccer, education and community service – for the whole month. The prize? Movie day!

This week, Destra won the chance to watch a fun kids’ movie called “L Balon d’Or/The Golden Ball” about a brave little boy from rural Africa who works hard, trains hard, believes in himself, and finds success in life through soccer. 

The kids loved having the opportunity to watch a movie, and even several parents stopped by to see what all the excitement was about. We had a great time!

And, just in case you didn’t already love this update enough, here’s a photo of a future GOALS champion who stopped by to see what we were up to in Destra:

Click here to make a donation. Thank you!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

Meet Gregolie and Jean Paul

Gregolie

Our 28 Dream Team scholarship kids are back to school! They go to school each morning, attend GOALS’ activities in the afternoon, and are busy planning their first community service group project. It's a lot of responsibility!

Please meet Gregolie Pierre and Jean Paul Vandam, both 18 years old. Gregolie has been on the GOALS Dream Team for three years, and Jean Paul earned a scholarship for the first time this year. It’s very difficult for GOALS staff to choose which among the dozens of applicants will receive a scholarship, but after reading this interview with Gregolie and Jean Paul, you’ll see why these two stand out.

What kind of activities do you do with GOALS? How long have you been participating?
Gregolie: I do a lot with GOALS. We talk about health, we organize and do special activities, we garden, and obviously we play soccer. I have been participating since 2010, so more than 3 years now.
Jean Paul: GOALS offers me a lot to do. I play soccer, participate in community service activities and benefit from English classes. (Note: In fact, one of the reasons Jean Paul earned a scholarship was that he always made a point to sit in the very front row in all of GOALS’ English classes last year!)

What do you like the best about GOALS’ activities?
Gregolie: I like GOALS’ programs because it is not only about sport but also socio-cultural activities. You have the chance to know more about English thanks to our weekly English course, or photography, it is also about education since you can get a scholarship according to your attendance rates and motivation. And also, we meet players and soccer teams from other areas, and we get to meet new faces!
Jean Paul: What I like the most is playing soccer! I am a big fan of that sport and have played it for a long time; since I was a small kid.

How do you imagine your life in a couple years? What kind of job would you like doing?
Gregolie: When I think about my future, I would like to be a lawyer or a journalist after I finish school. And also I would love to be a coach myself – a coach for girls!
Jean Paul: Hopefully everything will be fine, I wish I still could play soccer and also be an agriculture specialist.

What do you like the least about GOALS activities?
Gregolie: I don’t like being hurt sometimes during practice. And also I don’t like losing a match, I want to be a champion and win all the time!

How has participating in sports improved your life?
Gregolie: I love sports! It develops my muscles and makes me be healthier.
Jean Paul: Sport always is a benefit for everyone who takes the time for it. It allows me to grow better, to keep my body healthier and get less sick.

Congratulations to Gregolie  and Jean Paul for earning a scholarship this year with GOALS! Good luck at school and on the field!

If you’d like to help make sure that Gregolie, Jean Paul and other promising young students are able to complete their education, consider making a donation.

  • $350 supports a student with tuition, books and uniforms for a year
  • $100 provides educational materials for an entire soccer team
  • $65 buys a bicycle so students living in rural areas can get to school
  • $25 feeds an entire soccer team for a week

Click here to make a donation. Thank you!

Learn more about why GOALS supports education and meet more of our outstanding student athletes in this video from Jovan.

A video detailing the reason for the GOALS 2012 Winter Ed Campaign and the plan of action. For further information about the campaign and to donate check out http://www.crowdrise.com/goalsedfund2013 To learn more about GOALS Haiti visit www.GoalsHaiti.org To meet our Dream Team Members Check out www.nationaldreamteam.wordpress.com For a more in-depth look at some of the challenges our kids face check out our next video at http://vimeo.com/54660218 Our final link is a message from the founder and director of GOALS detailing exactly what the Winter Ed campaign will allow us to provde the communities we serve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96_kjMBoeEI *The music in the video is Timoun Yo Graciously provided by a great Haitian Musician Belo, if you enjoyed the music it and more can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Référence-Explicit/dp/B001EBW24G/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from our sport-for-development programs on the soccer fields of Leogane, Haiti.

GOALS' scholarship students go back to school

It’s back to school time here in Leogane!This year marks our biggest group of scholarship recipients yet, thanks to support from the Child Survival Fund, and volunteer Jovan Julien. 28 brilliant minds and 28 promises to study and work hard to succeed – skills they’ve already learned on the soccer field.

Each one of our scholarship students has proven themselves to be a strong young leader in their community, attending GOALS’ soccer, community service and education classes nearly every single day. Many of them have served as team captains or volunteered at GOALS special events and all of them are dedicated to making their communities a better place to live. This year, some of our scholarship students are going back to school for the first time in three years.

Eighteen year old Andre, for example, has fallen behind his peers in school, but earned a scholarship based on his extraordinary attendance at GOALS English classes, where he often stays late to ask for extra help. He says “I feel bad every time I see my classmates.  They ask me why they don’t see me at school anymore. It breaks my heart and I feel ashamed to tell them the problem.”

Others, like Raymond, attend school when they can, but can’t afford to attend full time. “Sometimes, the school director sends me back home because I have no money to pay for it. I can be a month without going to school because of the lack of money.”  Parents such as Raymond’s often choose between paying for food or paying for school.

With nearly all of our soccer players living in similar poverty, choosing the best of the best to receive a scholarship is a difficult task, and students know that they need to work hard to show that they deserve their scholarship.  Being a part of the Dream Team is not only a great opportunity for these kids, but also a great responsibility to maintain their eligibility.

Last week, GOALS staff met with our new group of scholarship students, the Dream Team class of 2013-2014.

At their meeting, the kids took time to hold elections for Dream Team President and Vice-president. We’re proud to share that Elcie, a long-term GOALS participant is this year's president. Obviously our efforts at building leadership and empowering young women have trickled down to this incredible group of young people!

A GOALS scholarship includes tuition, books, uniforms, and a promise to study hard and give back to the program.

At the meeting, the kids also received their school books, another big responsibility. Many kids in Haiti have to share their books or don’t have the opportunity to use school books at all.

These kids know that with a GOALS Dream Team scholarship, they’ll be able to go further and achieve more – in school, in soccer, and in life.

So here they are! Please meet the 2013-2014 GOALS Dream Team, wearing their new shirts, taking it very seriously and proudly posing. GOALS wishes you all good luck for upcoming the school year!

If you’d like to help make sure that these promising young students are able to complete their education, consider making a donation.

  • $350 supports a student with tuition, books and uniforms for a year
  • $100 provides educational materials for an entire soccer team
  • $65 buys a bicycle so students living in rural areas can get to school
  • $25 feeds an entire soccer team for a week

Click here to make a donation. Learn more about why GOALS supports education and meet some of our outstanding student athletes in this video from Jovan.

A video detailing the reason for the GOALS 2012 Winter Ed Campaign and the plan of action. For further information about the campaign and to donate check out http://www.crowdrise.com/goalsedfund2013 To learn more about GOALS Haiti visit www.GoalsHaiti.org To meet our Dream Team Members Check out www.nationaldreamteam.wordpress.com For a more in-depth look at some of the challenges our kids face check out our next video at http://vimeo.com/54660218 Our final link is a message from the founder and director of GOALS detailing exactly what the Winter Ed campaign will allow us to provde the communities we serve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96_kjMBoeEI *The music in the video is Timoun Yo Graciously provided by a great Haitian Musician Belo, if you enjoyed the music it and more can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Référence-Explicit/dp/B001EBW24G/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more updates and photos from the field.

2013 Annual Report

Every day at our sites in Léogane, Haiti, we have hundreds of happy, healthy kids excelling as leaders on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in their communities. They debate what leadership means to them, their communities’ biggest needs, and the importance of gender equality. They scarf down big, hot plates of food and wear crisp soccer uniforms with an enormous amount of pride.

Haiti is one of the hardest places in the world to grow up. In a country where secondary school enrollment is just 19% and most families eke out a living on just $2USD a day, our players have big dreams of completing school, building careers, and helping others. They want children to have shoes, attend school, get medicine and drink clean water. They want communities to have electricity, roads, and water pumps.

GOALS also has big dreams. We are committed to laying the groundwork for a solid foundation now so that in the future we can help many more children and families throughout Haiti. We push for excellence from our players and staff members every day to be the strongest leaders they can be. This expectation of effort, commitment, and passion apply to every single person on ‘Team GOALS.’

As a result, our participants’ experiences have steadily improved. Thanks to our in-kind donors, our players have the equipment they need. Your support has provided our players with more food, more match time, and more classroom supplies than ever before. New health partnerships mean that we can now offer free consultations, medication, and community screenings to Léogane families. We are fulfilling our mission to improve quality of life now in order to best empower our players to achieve their ambitions.

Together, we moved mountains this past year. GOALS won the Beyond Sport trophy for “Best New Project," grew the Dream Team Scholarship Program, and fought floods during Hurricane Sandy.

All of these accomplishments are thanks to you, our network of team members that stretches around the world. We are incredibly grateful for your support, in all its forms, and are proud that we have been able to deliver you with such significant results. Since 2010, we have had a direct impact on over 6,300 different people in Haiti and we can’t wait to help even more people in the year ahead.

At the heart of what we do is empower children in need to become healthier and happier. In the upcoming year, during our proudest achievements and toughest challenges, this is what will drive us. Our players and coaches have all the potential in the world to make big things happen. I believe in their dreams, and am inspired by the progress we’ve made together. At the end of the day, there is no better feeling than knowing our participants are growing into the strong young leaders their communities need, and are doing so with hard work, full bellies, and big smiles.

On behalf of everyone at GOALS, mèsi mil fwa – a thousand thanks!

Sincerely yours,
Kona Shen
Founder & Director

View the 2013 Annual Report here