Defying Obstacles
Venise, Haiti
GOALS Haiti is an award-winning sport for development organisation committed to multigenerational change that focuses on children and young people in rural Haiti. Through soccer, GOALS engages young people and their families in programs that promote education, health and environmental protection to improve their quality of life on a daily basis. Through leadership development and social change initiatives, GOALS is creating stronger, healthier communities in rural Haiti. 98% of participants had not had access to sport before GOALS. Venise is a player and assistant coach from Kafou Croix in Haiti.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your sports journey up until now?
My name is Venise. I am from Kafou Croix, and I am in high school. I have played football for nine years. I first got involved via my cousin. I told him I like football and he took me to an organisation called the GOALS program, where I learned to play football. That was my first time playing football.
I started to play football in 2014. My father did not want me to play football because he did not want me to get hurt whilst I was playing. Eventually I convinced him to change his mind. Daddy’s Little Girl Power!
Now I am the assistant coach for the football teams in my community, both the young boys and girls team and the youth teams. I am also team captain of our girls’ team.
What did you try to capture with the photos? Was there a wider meaning?
The photos were taken at the GOALS pitch in Kafou Croix and in the community. The people are all my friends and football players. It is through GOALS that I made all these friends. I tried to show the children who were training on the field and the fun we have when we play.
Everyone can play football. Football is fun and enjoyable when you play it. It helps you to stay healthy and brings people together.
What role does football play in your community and Haitian society? What are the opportunities for women and girls to play football?
Football has a great importance in my community because it develops good qualities and traits like discipline and respect in the kids in our community. The GOALS program gives an opportunity for girls and women to play football. Football helps the girls and women develop positive relationships with people in the community.
What impact has the GOALS Haiti program had on you and your community?
The GOALS program has had a huge impact on my life. Through this program I have had the opportunity to play football every day. My education is paid for by the GOALS scholarship program, which relieved a great burden on my parents because they were not able to help me with my school tuition. GOALS inspired lots of kids to not give up on themselves and be determined to accomplish their dreams.
What ambitions do you have for the future?
My ambition for the future is to become a nurse and help my fellow Haitians that cannot afford healthcare.
What do you think the future looks like for sport in your community and country? What do you want to change? How would you improve gender equality?
Sport will become a great thing in the community and then in the country. I would like children everywhere in Haiti to have the opportunity to play football without any obstacles and have a good football pitch.
In order to improve gender equality, it is important for women to have opportunities to work, because women can do what men can do. This will change the mindset of men that think women are not equal to them.
