Sakala serves as a youth community centre in the Cite Soleil of Port-au-Prince. Sakale stands for 'Sant Kominote Altènatif Ak Lapè' which translates from Haitian Creole into English as 'The Community Center for Peaceful Alternatives.' Founded as a Pax Christi peacebuilding project, the organisation was born of the growing violence in Cite Sole after the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrande Aristide in 2004. With growing violence between armed groups, it used the soccer culture of Haiti to promote peacebuilding, creating a Cite Soleil soccer team to unify the neighborhoods. The team played with Haitian National Police, UN soldiers and others.

The children of Sakala soccer team. Image credit: SAKALA

The success of the programme led Sakala to expand, and it now aims to support children and young adults through athletics, agronomy, and education. It builds people of courage and character, to strengthen the families and communities of Cite Soleil.

Sakala's projects include work on sports, art and literacy, economic development, and a micro platform for peace.

Its vision for the future is one in which every child has an alternative to armed groups and violence.

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