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Projects:
Youth Sports ProgramSTATUS: launched January 2005 / ongoing Providing core funding for an after-school soccer program for 650 youth from Cité Soleil and Bel Air sections of Port-au-Prince. NEED: Out of 1,032 schools in Port-au-Prince, only 4 have offer sports to their students. While the law provides for athletic programs, there are neither funds, fields nor physical education teachers. In a country where soccer is a national obsession, the lack of sports programs deprives young people of the opportunity to acquire self esteem, discipline and dedication - the skills developed through playing sports. RESPONSE: Yéle Haiti sponsors an after-school sports program managed by L’Athlétique d’Haïti, which serves the youth of the Cite Soleil and Bel Air slums of Port-au-Prince. Children must be enrolled in school full time in order to qualify for the program, which includes after-school tutoring and one hot meal a day. Beginning with children at the age of 6, L’Athlétique d’Haiti provides them with the opportunity to play sports. L’Athlétique focuses on soccer, basketball and track, training a large percentage of all the athletes in Haiti who participate in the country’s national games, the highest level of organized sports that exists in the country. Yéle Haiti provides scholarships so more kids can participate in the program, and provides funds to help pay staff; cover the cost of maintaining the facility, and buy uniforms and sports equipment. L’Athletique d’Haiti has a new website thanks to Yéle Haiti and our volunteer web designer Molly Stewart. Check it out. Partners: Sponsor: Photo: Youth playing on the soccer field at L’Athletique d’Haiti |
