Over the past 3 years, communities, soccer coaches and youth leaders in Léogâne have come together with the support of soccer fans and donors from around the world to dream bigger and achieve more through the power of football with GOALS (Global Outreach And Love of Soccer).

Through daily after-school soccer clubs, matches and tournaments at four locations in Leogane, GOALS brings communities together to improve lives on a daily basis while supporting long-term development initiatives. Every day, hundreds of young people in Leogane come to play soccer, learn to protect their environment with recycling sessions and compost workshops, and have a chance to earn school scholarships, and every day, hundreds of girls are empowered both on and off the soccer field through increased confidence, leadership opportunities and access to health information and resources.

Throughout the past three years, soccer coaches, parents, and kids in the rural seaside village of Destra have always asked us for a safe place for their community. With no cars in the village, the nearest paved road is a 30-minute walk. There is little commerce and no jobs, no schools and no churches.

Together with the community of Destra and Building Goodness Foundation, GOALS will create 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 go to learn about their health. We’re proud to announce our new campaign to break ground on a new community education center in the rural village of Destra in February 2014.

Not only will the community education center provide a safe space for GOALS programs and community activities, it will also bring new commerce and economic opportunities to the village. GOALS is excited about this opportunity to completely transform one rural village through the power of sport and one big dream.

HL/ HaitiLibre