I have two sons, Simon and Jamie.  Simon, the elder one, is a professional photographer, among other things.
Apart from loving to travel and photograph wild landscapes, he is conscientious and community-minded.  Back when Haiti suffered the great devastating earthquake, he and some pals went down with as much water, food, mosquito nets and medication as they could muster. Among all these things were a dozen footballs. These were a big hit with the local kids (and bigger kids!), who’d been mucking around in the dust with make-shift balls.  Moved by the smiles on the boys’ faces, Simon went back to New York with all kind of ideas. He contacted Linda Ford’s Downtown United Soccer Club/Soccer Recycle, and Patrick Lucian, a Haitian who lives in Boston. Between them, they set up the Haiti Soccer Recycling Project, gathering new or used jerseys, shorts and socks, cleats and soccer balls, which they take down to Haiti twice a year. Not content with just that, Simon organized a soccer league on Ile-a-Vache, just off the southwest coast of Haiti.  He brought them the gear and trophies and created a soccer tournament for four of the 22 schools on the island.  He is in the process of filming a documentary about the program.  HIs next trip is in July. 

To see Simon’s photos of the teams proudly wearing the soccer gear at the tournaments, and the beautiful Ile-a-Vache, see his website:  http://www.simonrussellphotography.net/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=20&a=0&at=0

For an article and more information, see: http://www.pdnonline.com/photoserve/Soccer-Kids-of-Hait-3143.shtml

To donate equipment or make a donation, contact Simon at :  simonrussell@nyc.rr.com