Courtesy Josh Silvia, Westfield State Sports Information

Westfield State men’s soccer assistant coach John Evans received a phone call that changed his life. 

Nick Whalen, the man on the other end of the line, called Evans to discuss the possibility of running a soccer camp in Haiti.

Whalen, who became a photojournalist after attending Berkshire Country Day School until 2007, is a former soccer player and the founding member of Konbit Football Ayiti.

Konbit Football Ayiti is a grassroots organization that focuses on providing quality coaching, equipment, and education to communities in Haiti that need it most. Evans, who is also a counselor at Berkshire Country Day School and resides in Housatonic, is a member of the organization.

In the winter of 2007, Whalen and Evans met and shared ideas about what was needed to run a soccer camp in Haiti.

“He asked me if I wanted to do a soccer camp in the slums of Haiti,” Evans said.  “I said sure and we strategized for an hour on how they needed equipment.”

Dutra helped Evans the first year in Haiti and has spent the last two years in the U.S. helping organize the trips.

During his time in Haiti, Evans realized that he was privileged and Haitians were at times desperate.

“I knew the county was poor before I went there.  The average income is $2 to $3 a day. I knew that intellectually, but until I encountered poverty first hand it didn’t hit me, Evans said. 

“A little boy was begging me for the last inch of water in my plastic bottle because that would be his only water for the day,” he said.

At the start, Maria Whalen - Nick’s mother - helped translate during practices by speaking French. Now, Evans and his wife have been learning the native language of Kreyol.

Evans helped coaches and players not only by teaching the fundamentals of the game, but also supplying equipment.

According to Evans, Haitians are accustomed to playing on cement and using milk cartons as balls. Evans brought balls, pinnies, cleats, shirts, and bags for the players and coaches.

“Everyone gets shoes at the beginning of practice.  Then, each kid gives them back at the end of practice.  The coaches hold onto the equipment,” Evans said.

As for education, only certain people are allowed to attend school. 

“Haiti only has private schools and only elite people go to school,” Evans said. “The poor, uneducated people don’t have power so the grassroots organization has started free community schools. If you are going to affect any change you are going to have to do it with youth.”

So far, Evans said 300 kids have benefited from the schools.

During his time in Haiti, Evans also observed the daily lifestyle of Haitians and what they see and smell every day.

“The sewage canals are filled with trash, rats, and it smells terrible,” Evans said.

After the visit to Haiti, Evans realized how he took water and his lifestyle for granted.

“When I came back home after being in Haiti for the first time, I turned the water on and ran my finger under it until it was cold and felt guilty,” Evans said.  “On the plane, I wondered why I am privileged and live where I do?  I am very lucky.”

While facing challenges in Haiti the past three summers, Evans might have his biggest challenge ahead. After the devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January, Evans’ mindset quickly changed from soccer to preserving life.

“The moment the earthquake happened, I wondered are my friends okay?” Evans said. “I started writing emails that night and each day until I heard they were okay.”

Before heading to Haiti this summer, Evans is helping his friends any way he can. He is sending money to his Haitian coaches and free community schoolteachers.

 Evans is also sending money because he believes supplies are not reaching Haitians. “Water and food are sitting at the airport and not getting out to people,” he said.

Evans said that armed troops are afraid of these people because they are poor, black, hungry, speak a different language, and are desperate

“So their worry is about violent gangs, violent crowds, and so they withheld the aid in an attempt to make everything safe before they passed out any aid,” he said. “The reality is there’s no danger. It has become more dangerous as they have withheld food because people have gotten hungrier.”

With the country’s recent devastation, Evans remains optimistic that the game of soccer can bring people together in a time of crisis.

“I hope this summer there’s an open field to play on so kids can put their heads around the game,” he said.

 Evans understands soccer is important, but not the biggest part of everyone’s lives.

“It’s great to teach soccer, but there’s always an agenda. I look forward to training soccer, but going down there was about soccer, food, education, and water,” he said. “Now, it’s about soccer, food, education, water, health care, rebuilding lives and the community.”

The school counselor/Westfield assistant soccer coach realizes that rebuilding lives and the community will take at least 10 years, if not more. But he’s eager to get started.           

“I can’t wait until June comes,” he said. “I told my wife don’t plan on seeing me before August.”

 To make a donation or for more information on the soccer camps, free community schools, or grassroots organization, go to www.konbitfootballayiti.com.