In late June, I found myself jammed into a small Belmont restaurant, surrounded by strangers while watching a World Cup soccer match. The air was thick with anticipation, and every available inch of floor space was claimed by fans pressed shoulder-to-shoulder. Every head tracked the ball on the television screen, arms waving and shoulders shaking with every near-miss and strategic play.
A neighbor invited me to this Haiti–Morocco watch party, which I assumed would be a fun evening centered around soccer. Instead, I stepped into a loud, energetic fundraiser where roaring cheers echoed and colorful donation signs for Haiti’s girls’ soccer teams filled the room.
As someone with Haitian roots, I was both excited and surprised to experience this vibrant community spirit happening right here in Belmont. The event supported Haiti Projects’ Girls Soccer Club, a program serving more than 100 girls and young women between the ages of 10 and 28. Organized into five teams based on where they live, the league provides a place to play and a community where participants can grow together. Beyond practices and tournaments, the girls volunteer at the Haiti Projects library, participate in community clean-up days, and read to elderly residents.
They also compete against neighboring towns, making soccer a way to strengthen connections throughout the region rather than simply a competition.
Pierre Valette, the former chair of Haiti Projects’ board of directors, has seen the girls’ soccer program grow “to a full-fledged soccer league that is supported by the entire community.” He credits that transformation to years of support from Belmont residents, from Champions Sporting Goods’ equipment drives to Belmont Youth Soccer’s donations and the many families who have contributed jerseys, cleats, equipment, and financial support.
Soccer may be the most visible part of the program, but it represents something much larger. In rural Haiti, opportunities for girls to participate in sports are limited, and many girls spend their time helping with household responsibilities, from washing clothes in the river and cooking over open fires to caring for younger siblings and tending livestock. Valette explained that “soccer brings them so much joy and a sense of importance as the entire community comes to watch them play.”
The league also serves as an interface with women’s health services, including HPV vaccines, sanitary products, contraception, and family planning education.
Back at the watch party, Frantz Jacques, a Haitian-American corporate attorney and current chair of Haiti Projects’ board of directors, took the halftime break to thank the energetic crowd for supporting the program, encouraging them to enter the raffle with prizes that included artisanal and embroidered items made in Haiti.
Reflecting on Belmont’s role, Valette said, “For Belmont to be part of making that happen is really special,” because it all centers around the joy of soccer while creating opportunities that reach far beyond the game itself. In many ways, that’s the lasting legacy of this World Cup.
Sport became a bridge connecting a small town in Massachusetts with girls and young women in southern Haiti. Through donations and equipment drives, community members have helped create opportunities that extend well beyond the game itself. It’s a reminder that while a World Cup lasts only a few weeks, the connections and impact it inspires can continue long after the final whistle.
As I reflect on this experience, I’m leaving with a greater appreciation for the community around me. This story reminded me that some of the most meaningful acts of kindness aren’t always that well known; they happen when neighbors come together for a shared purpose. I hope Belmont continues to support organizations like Haiti Projects and inspire others to see how even small contributions can create lasting change.
So far, Belmont Youth Soccer, Champions Sports, and dozens of Belmont families have contributed to this effort. To learn more about Haiti Projects’ Girls Soccer Club and how you can support its mission, visit the organization’s website.
Christelle Moïse is a rising senior at Belmont High School with a passion for reading mysteries, ice skating, and listening to music. When she’s not focused on schoolwork or volunteering in her community, she channels her creativity into writing about teen mental health and pop culture. With a strong commitment to using her voice for good, Christelle strives to raise awareness of important issues and shed light on often overlooked perspectives.
