The power of sports and the miracle of
television are bringing communities together in Haitian
neighbourhoods where peace and reconciliation are tenuous.

Through its Haiti Transition Initiatives (HTI)
programme, funded by OTI/USAID, the IOM office in Port au Prince
has provided television sets to more than 25 sites throughout the
Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods of Bel Air, Martissant and Cite
Soleil.

The televisions and generators, managed by a
democratically selected committee in each community, are now tuned
to World Cup matches, but will later be used for social, cultural
and educational purposes.

World Cup matches will also be broadcast
throughout Les Cayes, St. Marc, Petit Goave and Cap Haitien.

IOM's Chief of Mission in Haiti, Maureen
Achieng explains, "The IOM/HTI programme seeks to ensure youth are
productively engaged by providing short-term employment
opportunities and cultural activities that promote peace and
reconciliation. The importance of football in Haiti cannot be
ignored, which is why it helps to bring the World Cup matches to
marginalized neighbourhoods. The residents of these impoverished
neighbourhoods need to feel included in this international event.
The televisions represent tools for building reconciliation and
dialogue, not only within communities, but especially between the
population and their government."

The IOM/HTI project works with the Haitian
national and municipal government, and vulnerable communities to
assist with the rehabilitation of key infrastructure and to support
the processes of political stabilization, community recovery and
development in Haiti.

IOM is implementing the HTI in coordination
with USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives. Since May 2004,
IOM/HTI has completed over 300 projects totalling more than US$ 6.2
million. Another 190 projects totalling US$4.6 are underway.

For more information, please contact:

Gabrielle Goodfellow

IOM Port au Prince

Tel: +509 245 51 53

E-mail: "mailto:ggoodfellow@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">ggoodfellow@iom.int