An important working meeting was held at the UNESCO Office in Port-au-Prince to prepare for the 2025 National Inter-University Championship, under the theme "Sport for Development and Peace".

The meeting brought together government officials, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from the Ministry of National Education, as well as representatives from partner UN agencies (BINUH, UNDP, IOM, UNFPA, etc...), the private sector, the Haitian Olympic Committee, sports federations, and civil society.

This championship, which will cover all 10 departments of Haiti, will mobilize more than 10,000 young university students in football, basketball, and chess competitions. Its official launch is scheduled for September 21, 2025, the International Day of Peace, and will conclude on November 18, 2025, the day of the commemoration of the Battle of Vertières.

Beyond athletic performance, the initiative promotes social cohesion, inclusion, gender equality, and civic engagement among young people. It also includes :

• Talent identification and support for the 2028 Olympic Games;

• Workshops and awareness campaigns on peace, citizenship, and gender equality;

• Promoting culture and youth through artistic events and Peace Ambassadors.

The meeting concluded with a visit to Sainte-Thérèse Park in Pétion-ville, which will host part of the competitions.

Coordinated by the MJSAC and UNESCO, in partnership with the Haitian Olympic Committee, universities, sports federations, and technical and financial partners, this project positions sport as a powerful lever for peace and development in Haiti.

IH/ iciHaiti