Hurricane Melissa Update: Standing Together After the Storm. Join our efforts.
At GOALS Haiti, our hearts are heavy for the lives lost and the families deeply affected by Hurricane Melissa. As the storm swept across our program sites (especially in Destra and Bossan) it left behind flooding, loss, and heartbreak during an already difficult time in Haiti.
From the field - See images from Bossan
In Bossan, severe flooding left standing water inside homes for three days displacing families and creating a health risk with exposure to contaminated water.
Our football field, usually filled with laughter and play, was underwater. The community garden and tree nursery (spaces where kids learn to grow food and care for the earth) were washed away.
In Destra, families faced flooding and damage to their homes and loss of crops.
With so much standing water, the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases is rising across the country.
Our response: neighbors helping neighbors
Within hours of the storm, our Haitian-led staff and alumni coaches were in the field assessing damage, clearing debris, and checking on families. We are working on an immediate response focused on care, safety, and recovery:
· Assessment and cleanup
Teams are clearing mud and debris from homes, the field, and gardens, while identifying urgent repair needs to restore safe, accessible spaces for our youth.
· Emergency food & hygiene kits
Families have lost food and supplies, so we’re distributing emergency kits with food staples, soap, water-purification tablets, and sanitary items, essentials that protect health and dignity.
· Mental-health support
Our staff and coaches are providing group sessions and one-on-one support for children and parents. Beyond rebuilding homes and fields, we’re helping rebuild a sense of safety and calm.
· Disease-prevention education
As cholera cases rise, we’re leading awareness sessions on clean-water practices, hygiene, and recognizing early symptoms to prevent outbreaks.
· Recovery of our field & gardens
Our next step is restoring the heart of our program - the football field, community garden, and tree nursery so that kids can return to the routines that give them support, joy, belonging, and hope.
Why it matters
At GOALS, we know that consistency changes lives. Many of our youth have been with us for years, growing up on these fields, learning teamwork, leadership, and service. When that stability is disrupted, the impact ripples through entire communities.
That’s why we’re acting quickly to rebuild not just structures, but the sense of home and hope that GOALS represents.
We had planned to celebrate our 15th anniversary this week with a virtual Community Conversation, but we’ve postponed it. Today, the most meaningful way to celebrate 15 years of GOALS is through action, standing in unity beside the kids and families who’ve stood with us.
How you can help
You can make a difference right now:
Donate to support emergency food, hygiene kits, and long-term recovery.
Share this update so more people learn what’s happening in Destra, Bossan, and beyond.
Stay engaged. We will share updates as our fields and gardens come back to life.
Together, we can turn this storm’s damage into renewal ensuring that the young people of GOALS Haiti continue to grow, lead, and thrive.
With gratitude and solidarity,
The GOALS Haiti Team