Meet the Member: GOALS Haiti
In the Meet the Member series, we highlight members of the Cool Down Sport for Climate Action Network and their work at the intersection of sport and climate change. This week Freddie chatted to Kathy McAllister, executive director of GOALS Haiti.
Hi GOALS Haiti! Tell us what GOALS Haiti is all about? What does your organisation do?
GOALS Haiti is a non-profit organization dedicated to community development and youth empowerment through football. Its mission is to engage children and young people in activities that promote leadership, education, health, social cohesion and environmental initiatives.
A key component of GOALS Haiti’s work is its Purposeful Play curriculum, which uses soccer as a tool to teach conflict resolution, peace-building skills and climate action. By integrating sports with life skills training, environmental initiatives, and lessons in peace, GOALS Haiti strives to foster long-lasting positive change in underprivileged communities in rural Haiti and empower youth to become leaders in promoting harmony and positive development.
Which of your projects on tackling the climate and nature crises are you most excited about?
GOALS Haiti is tackling the climate crisis by integrating environmental education with football and community leadership. Youth participate in tree planting, recycling, and cleanups, while learning sustainability through the Purposeful Play curriculum. Additionally, GOALS offers natural disaster preparedness training and women’s leadership programs focused on climate crisis awareness and gender. These initiatives empower women and girls to take active roles in addressing climate challenges and promoting resilience within their communities, ensuring a more sustainable and inclusive future.
What gets me excited is teaching youth about the importance of protecting the environment and the holistic approach of increasing local food sourcing, tree planting and recycling initiatives in areas where there is no waste collection. To see the next generation of stewards informed, engaged and excited about protecting and improving their communities.
What is different and special about sport that can make it so good for mobilising climate action? Why do you think sport is a powerful vehicle for stimulating more ambitious climate action throughout society?
Sport is uniquely powerful for mobilizing climate action because it transcends cultural, social, and geographic boundaries, reaching a diverse audience. It encourages teamwork, resilience, and shared goals; making it an ideal platform to unite people for collective action. By tapping into the passion and visibility of sports, climate messages can reach broader, more engaged audiences. Athletes and sports organisations can serve as influential role models, inspiring more ambitious climate action across society, and sports events can model sustainable practices, setting real-world examples for environmental stewardship.
For the youth in our programs, they come to play the game they love and they end up learning and being inspired to so much more than football. There is a bond between teammates and coach that allows for a safe and comfortable space to tackle difficult subjects and a real dialogue on issues that face individuals and their community. That team work and trust that is built is exactly what is needed to address such important issues.
What do you think truly green sport would look like? How do you picture your favourite sport in 10 years time? What is your vision for a sustainable future for sport?
Truly green sport would prioritize sustainability at every level—from energy-efficient stadiums powered by renewables to zero-waste practices at events and eco-friendly transportation for fans and athletes. In 10 years, I envision sports integrating green technologies, with athletes and organizations advocating for climate action. Sports would champion environmental education, using platforms to inspire climate-conscious behavior in communities. A sustainable future for sport would see carbon-neutral events, reduced resource consumption, and a global movement where sport unites and drives environmental stewardship, making sustainability an integral part of its culture.
How does being a member of the Cool Down network help you?
Being a member of the Cool Down Network helps us to be aligned with a network of individuals and organizations committed to ensuring the sporting community leads the way on rapid and fair climate transition.
It is a network that we can learn best practices, share learnings and advocate as a group for social change.
Tell us something about you and sport that most people won’t know?
My mom was a huge sports fan and literally watched a wide array of sports from golf, tennis, boxing, baseball, American football and the Olympics. I learned a love of sport from her and I am fortunate through my work to have witnessed the powerful transformative power of sport benefit thousands of kids and youth who otherwise would have been left behind.
Everyone has a favourite sporting moment, what is yours and why?
My favourite sporting moment was in 2023 when the Haitian National Women’s team made their historic Women’s World Cup debut. It was such a proud moment and especially because 3 women on the team are GOALS alum who first played football though our program. There is a great clip documenting the spirit of what that moment meant, which can be found here.
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To find out more about GOALS Haiti’s work, visit their website.
If you’d like to spotlight your organisation as part of the ‘Meet the Members’ series, get in touch with cooldown@newweather.org.