In The News
“The program aims to keep kids off the street and prevent them from joining gangs, as well as potentially recruit the next big stars. It is run by James Louis-Charles, athletic director at Union School, which opens its soccer field to players on Saturdays. The plan was to enroll about 25 children, but about 50 children have since joined, many from the sprawling slums nestled in the mountains above the school.”
“My name is James Louis-Charles. I am in my 40s, and I live in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I am the Founder and Director of FC Juvenat, and we practice once a week.”
“James Louis-Charles sighs and navigates his car toward another checkpoint. His path to the school where he teaches is obstructed by men. Those men are wearing masks. Those men are toting guns. What used to be a 10- or 15-minute commute sometimes involves as many as four checkpoints. That the sight is familiar and that this is now part of his routine does little to settle his nerves since he never knows who is behind the mask today … or what they might do with those guns.”
Haiti luta contra domínio das gangues - de Olhares do Mundo
“De acordo com a Organização Internacional para Migrações (OIM), estima-se que 85% da capital esteja dominada por grupos armados. E é nesse ambiente que crianças e adolescentes iniciam a vida. Hoje, elas representam quase metade dos integrantes das gangues. Louis-Charles coordena atividades como futebol, trabalhos comunitários e capacitação para que os jovens tenham uma profissão e se tornem líderes em suas comunidades.”
