We are pleased to welcome Kenneth Dossous as our new Program Director.
Kenneth went to college at the Florida International University and received a double bachelor’s degree in international Relations and Political Science plus a double minor in Criminal Justice & Public Administration. He has over 15 years working for NGOs in Haiti. He successfully served in one of the most challenging urban communities and served in various rural communities throughout Haiti doing sustainable and durable community development projects. “My vision and mission is to put Haiti back on the map for what it was once popularly known as ‘The Pearl of the Caribbean’”.
Kenneth shares his thoughts on joining our team -
Growing up as a child I didn’t realize the value of an education or sleeping in a home with running water, electricity, and having a Mom and Dad raising me together.
When I was a young teenager my family decided to move to Haiti. Both of my parents had a strong passion for Haiti which I couldn’t understand and I was upset that as a teenager I had to move to a country I knew little about. I thought it was just a poor country. Nevertheless, this was the most critical change in my life.
When I moved to Haiti as a teenager, it was at that time I saw what true poverty was and it broke my heart, but it also woke me up. It was at that moment I valued the life that my parents gave me and I stopped taking little things for granted. During my summers in Haiti I spent it in the countryside where I had family. My summers as a teenager were like a thrilling adventure. They gave me so much joy and it was one of the happiest times in my life growing up.
During my senior year of High School, I moved back to the states as a brand-new person and I valued everything more. Because of that I excelled in all my studies. My worst School subjects became my easiest because I finally realized the value of education and how it could bring so much positive change in one's life.
I joined the U.S. military knowing that I was following in my family’s footsteps. However after seeing what the earthquake in 2010 did to my home country my heart was broken. Therefore, I felt a calling to serve my broken country. This is my lifelong mission. Strengthening families with sustainable durable programs and GOALS has put me in a position to achieve this mission.
Soccer unites everyone in Haiti and this to me is a brilliant strategy to bring people together to overcome adversity and challenges.
GOALS is producing young leaders who are invested in their future and their communities. I’m excited about my role with GOALS because this kind of long-term development is why I moved back to Haiti. I owe it to my country to help it rebuild and GOALS has put me on track to achieve my mission.