The Tribune

MOTIVATED by a need to facilitate organised sports, specifically soccer, in the public school system, Happy Hall founded the Youth Empowerment through Soccer International (YESI) programme two years ago.

Said Hall, a Bahamian professional soccer player in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Pro Division: “We have so much talent in our country that has never been seen because the kids are never really given the opportunity to showcase their talents.

“The responsibility to help our young people to reach their full potential is everyone’s responsibility, not just the government, parents or schools,” he added.

In order to create more opportunities for Bahamian kids to learn and play soccer and develop their character, YESI has established soccer programmes in North and South Cat Island, Arthur’s Town High School, Orange Creek Primary, and Dumphries (Pre-K). The group has also helped to arrange placement for several public school children to play soccer for professional clubs in the United States and has donated thousands of boots to primary public school students and underprivileged children with the help of local and international organisations, including residents of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, The Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, and The Willamae Pratt Centre for Girls.

Recently, YESI took a group of children to Colorado to expose them to soccer at an international level by collaborating with RUSH, the largest youth soccer club in the world.

While experiencing the RUSH “soccer culture,” the team observed first-hand the commitment, hard work and respect needed to play at a professional level.

The children participated in training sessions with Major League Soccer (MLS) Pro Team coaches and competed against some of the top RUSH under-12 boys’ teams in the United States.

The Bahamian team won matches against the teams from Southern California and Alaska.

RBC Royal Bank (RBC) assisted with the trip by providing Mr Hall and the group with a preloaded RBC VISA credit card. Additionally, RBC Royal Bank has partnered with YESI to build a new soccer field for students of Gambier Primary and Adelaide Primary, joining the ranks of other local and international organisations that have helped YESI make a positive contribution to the lives of young Bahamians.

Mr Hall expressed his gratitude to RBC. “Through its donation and support of YESI, RBC is helping us to shape the future of hundreds of children’s lives,” he said.

For more information about YESI please visit www.facebook.com/yesisoccer or email happy@yesisoccer.com