Hounds in Haiti

UIndy Athletics and the men's soccer team thanks everyone who donated to this trip. Your contributions have directly benefitted our journey.

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- August 8 - Final days in Haiti | PHOTO GALLERY
Friday was mostly a day of rest for the team, after working long into the night Thursday. The highlight of the day was traveling to nearby Onaville to watch Chambrun versus Onaville in a soccer match. Our side (Chambrun) was sporting the pink UIndy kits and crimson shorts we brought along, and it was quite a sight to see how well they represented the Greyhounds.

The size of the pitch only allowed for a 4-vs-4 game, but the level of excitement among the spectators was one-of-a-kind. Many of the folks from Chambrun piled in the bus with their team, and a few even squeezed in on our truck to make the trip.

Upon arrival, it was evident just how special this game was. The field was lined with chalk for both the out of bounds and midfield, and there was even a makeshift commentator working out of the back of a pickup truck. Large speakers were set up and the DJ played some music in between play-by-play.

On the sidelines, we stood and cheered for Chambrun, but really the atmosphere and enthusiasm among the Haitians really drove home the fact that we were all invested in the same thing: a simple, beautiful game of soccer.

We prepared to leave Saturday morning and put the final touches on the soccer pitch. Finally, after a week of arduous effort, we were able to see our dream come to fruition. We turned a field full of rocks and hard dirt into the beginnings of a quality soccer pitch, and were able to see Saturday the sprinklers come to life and begin watering the topsoil.

Zak Mitiche and JT Hiquet share their final thoughts from an enriching journey below.

ZM: Today is our last day here in Haiti, and I have mixed feelings about leaving. Yesterday we worked some more on the field, got some training in, and attended a very special match between the local Chambrun soccer team and the neighboring Onaville side. Even though the game was on a small sided dirt pitch, at least 100 local and visiting fans (who boarded a bus with the team) attended the match. A local DJ with giant speakers hooked up to his truck acted as commentator and kept the crowds entertained. It was pretty special seeing our Chambrun side suited up in UIndy gear, and I made sure to get pictures with the player who had my number 10 jersey on. Today we woke up early and

a lot of the guys went up to one of the roofs to watch the sunrise- a beautiful event over the mountains in the background- before going out to work on the field one last time. Before we leave we will take a final picture with all of the irrigation pipes on flattened and prepped soil, which will be symbolic of our time here- we started here as strangers and awestruck tourists, and will be leaving with new relationships and lessons learned.

JT: The first day I had questions on what we were doing. I was skeptical on the ride from the airport to the campus due to the harsh looks we were getting from the Haitians. This built up questions of whether what we were doing here was appreciated and if we were even actually helping. But this week has been an eye opening experience for me. This ministry has built itself in the past couple years as a huge influence on the villages around it. I believe we are doing the right thing here, even though originally I thought we weren’t. Last night was a portrayal of that. You could see the enjoyment that small sided soccer match brought to the villagers. We, as a UIndy team, were a part of a special moment between two neighboring villages. From the first day, I thought we looked at the Haitians with a bunch of problems that we needed to solve. And that is not the case at all, and the views that I now have are much different. We are not here to solve their problems. How could we? But we are here to help out as much as we can, bring smiles to faces and hope that our influences will help lead to a better lifestyle through the soccer field we are building, the church that is involved and the classrooms the kids get to go to.

ZM: I agree, I think we have definitely been part of something real- I made new Facebook friends and shared pictures of my family with new friends from Chambrun, and we helped build a new soccer field that will hopefully be used for the years to come. For me the lessons learned have been that we are new here, that we are strangers. I’ve learned not to take what I have for granted, and to not assume- as JT said- that I can come here and solve someone else’s problem. One of my favorite quotes is, “If you have come to help me, know that I don’t want your help. But if you have come because you believe your liberation is tied to my liberation, then walk with me.” I hope we’ve been able to come here with humility and with ears open, ready to learn from our hosts and help them as they see fit.

JT: And learning from our hosts, I believe, we have. The ministry here is dedicated and committed to bettering Chambrun in any way possible. With the medical staff they have, the volunteers they get, and the leadership through the church; they are making a huge impact. Unfortunately, we have to leave today. But the story and experience does not end here. We are now capable of doing even more for the Haitians than I think some of us think. And that is through the word of mouth. We must tell our story to our friends and families and hope that the impact we have never stops.

- August 7 - Thursday recap: A day (and night) of labor | PHOTO GALLERY
Thursday marked a long, arduous day of labor for the Greyhounds. From sunrise to sunset, and well beyond, the Hounds dug trenches for the irrigation pipes. Totaling 1,300 feet, the trenches needed pick axing just to allow the shovels to remove the dirt and rocks.

A solid morning shift saw the completion of the trench from the well to the edge of the field, and from that point all the way down the sideline where the main pipe will be located.
The guys then stole a quick nap, dragging their mattresses to the air-conditioned bathroom in order to cool down enough to rest. Meanwhile, a small group of administrators went into Port-Au-Prince to purchase the 1,300 feet of PVC pipe.

After training again at the Olympic Park, the team came back to campus and had dinner. With about 30 minutes of daylight left, we went back out to the field to start on the trenches going horizontally across the pitch. Each trench, about 120 feet across, had a handful of guys, a pick ax and some shovels. As soon as the sun went down a steady rain began to pour, and it lasted nearly two full hours as the team labored. With a limited number of tools, we split up the first four trenches and came together to do the last one as a complete team. The motivation and determination to complete the task exemplifies what it means to finish strong.

Zak Mitiche and JT Hiquet reflect on a hard day of work below.

ZM: We started off the morning knowing it was going to be a long day on the field digging trenches. We started first thing in the morning, at around 8 a.m., of what seemed to be the hottest day of the week. We had a quick team

meeting to get hyped up for digging the first of many trenches for the day, then got to work digging a trench for irrigation pipes that would go from the well, about 80 yards to the field, and then along the entire length of the almost-full sized pitch. Julian Shamsaie kept everyone entertained with quotes from the movie Holes, as that is what the back breaking work on the dusty and arid ground reminded everyone one of. The work, which involved pick axes to break up the ground and shovels for getting it out, was particularly difficult around the muddy areas around the well, where Scott Young lost a shoe that got sucked underneath the ground. Luckily we were later able to dig it out with the shovels. The trenches, which had to be about a foot deep and half a foot wide, took us two hours to complete, although if you asked any of us we would have guessed it had taken much longer. We finished by mid-morning, and with some funny picture evidence to prove it,y all managed to make our way into the bathrooms- which were the only part of campus where the air conditioning runs during the day- for a long mid-day nap.

JT: After the nap, the Tap Tap (bus that we traveled in) had arrived. We were off to Olympic Park to get a good training in. When we arrived, we noticed there was a basketball camp going on inside one of the buildings. The kids from inside the camp saw us and ran out quickly to join us out on the field. As we were warming up, the Haitian kids were playing with the soccer balls we had brought out; enjoying themselves and running around with big smiles. It was a cooler (I say cooler but it was still hot) night for training which helped. After training, we made it back for dinner and heard the news that we needed to dig five more trenches across the width of the field to help the pipes run through the field. The trenches had to be a foot deep like the ones we did in the morning. The five trenches and the trench we dug this morning totaled up to be around 1300 feet. While we dug, it began to rain; which was a surprise since it hasn’t truly rained at the campus since March. We finally finished the trenches around midnight. Luckily for us, we were told we could sleep in as long as we want Friday morning.

- August 6 - Wednesday recap | PHOTO GALLERY
Wednesday was the much-anticipated beach day for the Nehemiah Vision Ministry visitors. Our group and the group from Coram Deo Academy in Carmel, Indiana, spent the day at a resort about an hour and a half from the NVM campus. The ocean water was inviting after a few days of working in the arid conditions of Chambrun.

The break was short-lived, however, because upon arrival back on campus the guys noticed the topsoil on the field had yet to be spread and leveled. Immediately after dinner we grabbed shovels and began to spread the large piles by hand. The Coram Deo group also skipped the evening of rest and pitched it in helping to spread the dirt. Using shovels, rakes and bare hands the two groups flattened the top soil to prepare for Thursday.

Again, JT Hiquet and Zak Mitiche reflect on the enjoyable day below.

ZM: Today was the day everyone was waiting for- beach day! We woke up early on and boarded the buses first thing after breakfast. We went to the beach with the Coram Deo group that has been on the NVM campus with us all week. We crammed on to an old school bus, but despite the heat we all were looking forward to getting in the water (and working on our tans). What was meant to be an hour and a half ride turned into a much longer all-morning trek as the bus had to make multiple stops because the engine kept overheating- we later learned that this was not an uncommon occurrence. Along the way I witnessed poverty and very low standards of living and asked myself many questions regarding how best to take my immense material privilege and stand in solidarity with those who are less privileged, a question that has been the backdrop to my entire trip here in Haiti. We arrived at the Wahoo Beach Bay Resort and were shocked by the beauty of the see-through water, white sand, and beautiful mountain ranges that made up the backdrop. As soon as we arrived I went snorkeling for the first time, and although we struggled to figure out how to use the equipment, we finally managed to get in to the water and witness the beauty of the coral reefs. This was another day of deep bonding with all of the guys and it was a pleasure being a part of it.

JT: Today was just a fantastic day, to simply put it. I also attended the snorkeling trip with some of my teammates and the reefs off of Haiti are beautiful. Throughout the day, we all bonded as one big group (my team and the Coram Deo group). It was a special bond filled with smiles and laughter. When we left the resort, we expected to still relax; however, the field that we are currently building needed work. Even though we could have easily taken the night off, our groups came together with hard work and discipline and flattened 8 mounds of soil for the field. This was all knowing that we potentially wouldn’t have showers due to a leak in the water system. Fortunately for us, a blessing came and gave us the opportunity to shower after. This was a fun filled day, but the dedication and commitment from my teammates and the Coram Deo group was outstanding.

- August 5 - Tuesday recap: visit to Chambrun & rematch versus the Haitians | PHOTO GALLERY | VISIT TO CHAMBRUN PHOTO GALLERY
Tuesday was a busy day from sunrise to sunset for the Greyhounds, and was filled with highs and lows. The day began with some manual labor, as the guys were tasked with digging trenches for the irrigation system for the new field. The ground here in Haiti is extremely weathered and filled with tons of rocks, making it a tall order to dig a 14-inch deep trench. Another group was running a soccer clinic for the local kids, and played a couple friendly games on the small goals.

After lunch our group had the opportunity to go into Chambrun, one of the villages Nehemiah Vision Ministries serves. For over an hour the guys interacted with the little kids from the village, kicking a soccer ball around or giving piggyback rides. Click through the photo gallery above to get a gimpse of the moment. The experience was one that will likely remain with us forever, as JT and Zak express below.

Following dinner UIndy was challenged to another serious game of 9-vs-9 against the Haitians, this time playing two 20-minute halves and having a referee. Our guys came a little more prepared than they did in Sunday’s lopsided defeat and came away with a 4-1 victory. Coach John Higgins even made an appearance in midfield as the squad’s “super-sub.”

JT Hiquet and Zak Mitiche reflect on the day below.

ZM: Today was the hardest day of work on the field. We seem to have made a lot of headway, especially thanks to the local team that has been working on with the heavy construction equipment to flatten and level the field. We joined them early in the morning to pick up the hundreds of loose rocks that the bulldozers weren’t able to pick up. I thought that was going to be the end of it, but then we realized the difficult part was yet to come. One of the team leaders came over and took a handful of us over to the side of the field where we had to dig a trench underneath a sidewalk. This would be used to connect well-water to the irrigation system for watering the field. When I heard that we would have to dig underneath a sidewalk, I didn’t really know what to expect. We broke up into teams to handle pick axes and shovels. After digging about 5 feet from the sidewalk each side and two feet deep, we took turns handling a heavy

pull driver to dig a tunnel underneath the sidewalk, which alone took almost two hours.

JT: Digging under the sidewalk was definitely an experience. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Back home the dirt is incredibly easy to get through, but here; there is so many rocks where you can’t use a shovel. You have to use a pick axe. When we used the heavy pull driver, we had got both sides of the side walk to a certain point, but a rock was blocking the way for us to final push through. One of the Haitian guys that helps translate for us decided to come over and he started to give us pointers on how to final punch through the rock. After what took us about an hour of trying, he did it in under 15 minutes. Twisting and turning, using methods that we wouldn’t even consider. After the trench was finished, we got the opportunity to go to the nearby villages to see the locals. It was a touching and eye opening experience. When we first got there, all the kids ran out and instantly had a smile on their face. That was a common thing every time we saw the Haitian kids. We had 2 balls with us and in a little dirt patch began to play soccer. There were kids of all ages, girls and boys having a fantastic time. I got the chance to meet one of the most adorable little boys, Benji. Benji and I bonded even with the language barrier we have. I have learned to say “What is your name?” in Creole. But other than that, we communicated through laughter and smiles. He wanted me to hold him the entire time we were there, which was a good hour, hour and a half. I wouldn’t change a moment. It was another positive relationship that I will keep forever and luckily for that day I got to put a smile on his face.

ZM: Later on that day- after another training session and getting ourselves showered, we learned that the local guys wanted to challenge us to a semi-official match with refs, timed halves, and a pretty large crowd of supporters. It was loads of fun as we prepared to take on the challenge- even putting on our matching blue NVM t-shirts for the occasion. Many of us noted how much fun we had despite the fact that many of the balls we used were half flat, and playing on a dirt field with only approximate out of bounds markers. Both sides took the game rather serious, and there were strong tackles coming in to prove it! We finished the match with a win, but everyone at the field- our squad, the opponents, and local and visiting supporters alike, came together afterwards to shake hands, laugh, and enjoy a great end to a long day.

- August 4 - Monday's recap | PHOTO GALLERY
On Monday the guys began the clinics with some of the local youth. The Greyhounds were able to lead different stations and teach the Haitians more about the game of soccer. It was a great opportunity to directly interact with the community and create a lasting impact.

Unfortunately, the work on the new soccer field was put on hold due to some delays in the process, but in the meantime the team had the chance to practice at the Olympic park where the Haitian national teams practice. The multi-million dollar facility provided the Hounds with a brand new turf surface to train, but also sat across the street from a low-income village set on the mountain. The setting offered a stark contrast for the team.

JT Hiquet and Zak Mitiche weigh in on their experiences Monday below.

ZM: We started the morning off by running the first of a week-long soccer camp for the younger guys in town. I had the privilege of leading a shooting drill which included finishing and placement, and many of my teammates led various other drills around the soccer field. It was humbling to see that many of the children and teenagers did not have proper training gear yet seemed to really enjoy themselves despite it. We were able to get to know each other even though we could not communicate well, and now when I see some of the players who attended around the NVM campus we greet each other by name with the few French phrases I know. It was a great experience.

JT: I also had an incredible experience at the soccer camp. For my station, Julian Shamsaie and I played each group in a highly competitive soccer game of 3v3 on a basketball court. Although it was just for fun, you can definitely tell the Haitian boys take each game seriously. It’s amazing how, with no shoes, they play as hard as they do; not worrying about an injury. After the camp was over, Brendon Widau and I got the unique opportunity to actually go into the village with another group that is here. We went to a side part of Chambrun where NVM is building houses for some of the villagers. The most eye opening moment that occurred was displayed from the gratitude of an elderly women in the village. Today, there were high winds creating a lot of dust. It was hard for the builders to work as dust was hitting them. This women walked a quarter of a mile with a 5 gallon bucket to fill it up with water and bring back to spread on the dirt just so the workers could continue building. It wasn’t just once when she did it, either. She did it multiple times, ensuring that the workers had a good working environment. It goes to show that what we are doing here is appreciated from the villagers right next to us.

ZM: I wasn’t able to go into Chambrun today but I look forward to visiting tomorrow with the rest of the squad. I can only imagine how much pride and dignity one must have to be so keen to welcome her guests with so much respect. In the meantime, we were able to get out to the Olympic Park where the Haitian National team plays, for a short training session- the first of the season and one I’ve been looking forward to all summer. I noticed that right up ahead of us was a town on the mountain side with limited access to water, yet next to the field were running spigots for watering the palm trees at the facility. This affected a lot of the guys later when we had our end of the day discussion, so it will be interesting to what conclusions will come of it. The training session was a solid one to start off the season, and I’ll be looking forward to upping the tempo as the week leads us into captain’s practice and pre-season.

- August 3 - Arrival, First 24 hours in Haiti | PHOTO GALLERY
Saturday the UIndy men’s soccer team landed in Port-Au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and took the hour-long trip to the Nehemiah Vision Ministries campus in Chambrun. Walking outside the airport seemed like stepping into a completely different world, let alone country. Much of Saturday was spent recovering from the lengthy travel, getting oriented with the campus and meeting the small staff at NVM.

Sunday, the squad attended the ministry’s service for the local community and became immersed in the vibrant congregation. Sitting side-by-side with the Haitians and listening to the powerful music was likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the Greyhounds.

In the afternoon the team began work on the new soccer pitch. The squad helped build a perimeter around the field for the dirt to be leveled. Afterward, some of the Hounds engaged in a 9-vs-9 soccer match against the locals, coming out on the wrong end of a lopsided affair. Those that witnessed the defeat claimed it to be more than simply home field advantage for the Haitians.

Below is the first of several personal journals from UIndy student-athletes JT Hiquet (JT) and Zak Mitiche (ZM), who will be sharing their thoughts on this blog throughout the week.

JT: Our second day in Chambrun, Haiti was marked by highs and lows. We began our day with breakfast which was immediately followed by church. As a couple of us walked in, we decided to spread out among the locals to show more hospitality and create relationships. I walked down the aisle, not knowing where to sit when I saw a little girl point to the seat next to her. I sat down and was welcomed and accepted immediately by her and her grandmother. Another boy sat to the left of me, Sansa, who I have become good friends with. As church started, you could feel the power in the message even though they were speaking a different language half the time. When the sermon began, I noticed a man began to tear up. Immediately following, a little Haitian boy sitting on one of the missionaries noticed and began to comfort the man. The little boy used his shirt to wipe the tears, sat on the man’s lap and held his hand; bringing instant comfort to the man. I couldn’t believe what I had saw. The Haitian boy had just met this man, basically a complete stranger, but showed gratitude when it came to helping the man out. It was incredibly inspiring.

ZM: I totally agree, the role of relationships seems to permeate everything in Haitian culture and reminds me of my own Algerian heritage. The human element in our church experience was very humbling as it reminded me of the importance of coming together for community building and worship. When we left church we started working on the field. We put up boards along the outside of the field and then began building a small trench for wiring that would run across the middle. I was tasked with manning a pick ax, which was a brand new experience for me. Needless to say I left afterwards covered in dirt and with a sore back and blistering fingers. It was great to do this type of hard worknext to my teammates and friends. I am really encouraged because I think we will all leave as a closer and more tightly knit group which will be important for us in the coming season.

JT: I also think that this really brought us together as a team. As a team, we live by the phrase United As One and it truly shows in the biggest and smallest of moments. Due to there only being so many shovels or pick axes, we would rotate on who is working when so that we could each get the breaks we needed. As we began to finish up our work for the day, local Haitians kids began to show up. Instantly, a pick up soccer game began and we began to bond as a community. Most of the kids speak no English but yet we communicated through the love of the game. It was a great feeling, seeing smiles on their faces. After the pick-up game, a local group of Haitians challenged us to a very competitive 9v9 game. Due to my injury that I am overcoming, I did not partake in the game but I got the opportunity to sit with some of the younger kids and they were hilarious. One of the boys acted as a commentator the entire match, non-stop for over an hour. It was enjoyable. They also weren’t afraid to let me know when their friends scored. Laughing and enjoying the moment, I had created more positive relationships that I will keep forever.

ZM: The young guys on the sideline definitely let us hear it during the game and made sure they gave us a hard time- all in good fun of course. Those who were playing in the game were also incredibly competitive and would not let us put our guard down at any point. It was great to get in a good laugh and bond with our hosts through playing. After dinner that night the team got together and had a chance to recap on the day while the sun set and with a beautiful mountain range behind us. It was great to see that we all felt we had a grown closer together. I think this opportunity in Haiti will play an important role on our season and our lives by exposing us to difficult questions about ourselves as we continue to work on this project.

- June 9 -
Early this August the UIndy men’s soccer team embarks on a week-long mission trip to Haiti, partnering with Nehemiah Vision Ministries to construct a brand new soccer pitch for a local community.

About 15 student-athletes will make the journey, as will Head Coach John Higgins and a pair of graduate assistants. Joining the team will be Associate Athletics Director Scott Young and Assistant Sports Information Director Kyle Piercy.

The Greyhounds will complete all stages of the building process, including field preparation, soil, irrigation and fencing.

“I think it’s always beneficial to do something that puts our world into perspective,” Higgins said, noting the team’s past trips to Riley Children’s Hospital. “We have so much stuff and often don’t even realize it, so I think this is a great opportunity to do something impactful and create lasting memories for our guys.”

Along with the physical labor, the Greyhounds will be immersed in the local culture, and will interact with the children and families of the community.

“This kind of experience doesn’t just last for a season, this is education and service for a lifetime,” Higgins continued. “What we want to cultivate at UIndy is more than simply playing a game.”

Prior to the trip the Hounds will participate in multiple fundraising efforts.

First, UIndy will team with the Indy Eleven and St. Francis Soccer Club to complete a Pack Away Hunger campaign June 12. The squad will help pack meals that will be delivered to the community in Haiti.

Next, the Hounds are hoping to take 50 brand new soccer balls to give to the kids in the community. Each full-size ball features the team’s “United as One” logo, and will be perfect for helping test out the new pitch upon completion.

Finally, continued efforts through the Greyhound Club will help the team pay for the trip, including flights, lodging, etc. Every bit helps the Greyhounds fund their trip. More information on how to help through these efforts can be found at the top of this page.

UIndy athletics and the men’s soccer team greatly appreciate any size donation to any of the aforementioned fundraising efforts.

Throughout the trip the Hounds in Haiti blog will be updated with stories and pictures from the trip. Stay tuned for updates throughout the summer leading up to the journey, as well.