A Childhood Shaped by Stories and Play
Growing up in Haiti, with frequent rolling blackouts and a TV with only three channels, our lives revolved around two powerful sources of joy: storytelling and play. Storytelling is woven into the fabric of Haitian culture. In a country where, according to UNESCO, about 62% of adults can read and write, many Haitians rely on oral tradition to pass down history, humor, and wisdom through Bouki e Malis, Krik Krak, Tim Tim / Bwa Sèch, and so many others.
What moved me most as a child was the stories about Haiti in the 1974 World Cup. They were stories of national unity, pride, and joy. I heard them so often that I sincerely believed Haiti qualified every year… and that we won the World Cup too.
When Storytelling Was Not Enough
With a house filled with siblings and cousins, play was constant. Hide-and-seek. Small games. And, of course, soccer. My parents, both educators, emphasized school and the importance of speaking French. But I was different. I did not care much for school. I wanted to play soccer every day.
Eventually, the desire to play pushed me beyond the yard. I did the one thing I was not supposed to do: I joined the street-soccer kids, many of whom came from underprivileged backgrounds.
Street soccer gave me more than athletic challenges. It gave me a sense of belonging, brotherhood, laughter, and an early awareness of the deep inequalities shaping the Haiti I was growing up in.
A Game That Belonged to Everyone
In Haiti, every boy plays soccer. My neighborhood was calm enough for kids to turn the street into a pitch. When I first joined, I was welcomed quickly. Maybe it was because I could play. But maybe, just maybe, it was because I had the ball, or because they knew I could be useful whenever the ball flew over my wall. That meant no one had to sneak into my yard, tiptoe past our dog, rescue the ball, and grab a mango or two on the way out before jumping back over the wall to rejoin the game.
Those moments shaped me. They helped me dream. They let me imagine I was scoring for Haiti, lifting the flag, winning the World Cup.
But this story is not just about me.
It’s about why soccer matters to Haiti.
A Lost Childhood Tradition
Today, amid worsening political and security crises, kids playing street soccer in Port-au-Prince have nearly disappeared. Parents cannot risk letting children outside. Gangs control too many areas. Even the sight of “street kids” is now wrongly associated with gang activity.
What was once a normal childhood is now almost a relic, something future generations might hear about only in stories.
Where FC Juvenat Comes In
This is why FC Juvenat was created.
With the generous support of Union School, which provides us with free access to their soccer field, and donations from family and friends, we built a program to provide children with a safe, hopeful environment.
Three years ago, we started with a modest goal: 25 players.
Today, we proudly serve 100 players, which is the maximum we can support right now.
Every Saturday, five teams of about 20 boys and girls under 16 gather to train, play, learn, and be children for an hour and a half. For many, it is their only moment of safety and joy each week. And to protect families, we provide health insurance to all 100 players, easing the financial burden that comes with sports injuries.
Our Mission
To offer Haitian youth a safe, structured, inspiring environment where they can play soccer, learn life skills, and dream freely regardless of their background.
Our Vision
A Haiti where boys and girls have access to a safe sporting space that builds discipline, teamwork, confidence, and hope.
A Haiti rebuilt through opportunity and resilience.
A Haiti where soccer is not just a game but a pathway.
A Nation Dreaming Again
As Haiti returns to the World Cup stage after 52 years without hosting a single qualifying match at home, countless kids will dream again despite the turmoil. They will picture themselves wearing the national jersey, lifting the country’s spirit.
At FC Juvenat, we are humbled to be part of nurturing those dreams.
This Thanksgiving, You Can Change a Life
Everything we do is only possible because of you.
As you gather with your loved ones this Thanksgiving season, we invite you to consider making a donation to FC Juvenat. Your support creates safety, opportunity, and hope for the next generation.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving!