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Best After‑School Activities and Youth Sports in Port‑au‑Prince

@Zara Walsh2/8/2026blog
Best After‑School Activities and Youth Sports in Port‑au‑Prince

listen, i’ve been stuck in the rattling streets of port‑au‑prince for three weeks now and i’m still trying to figure out why the Wi‑Fi never works longer than a coffee break. i’m a digital nomad who’s been bouncing from a co‑working spot in Pétion‑Ville to a shared flat in the downtown grid because the rent here is cheap, the data plans are cheap, and the kids’ energy is off the charts. if you’ve got a kid or a niece who’s dying to kick a ball before the sun kills them with heat, here’s a messy, half‑baked guide that’s as reliable as a Haitian taxi driver’s GPS.

Below is a quick visual of where most of these spots sit:

boy wear gray and orange shirt standing while raising his left hand

white and brown concrete houses near green trees during daytime


First off, the safety index in port‑au‑prince is low - on a 0‑10 scale it sits at around 2‑3, which basically means you can’t afford to leave your phone out of your hands while you’re strolling to a field after dark. a guy i met at a rooftop bar (the one with the green awning that actually has a decent view) whispered, “if you see someone in a flashy jacket, they’re either a security guard or a drug dealer.” i’m not joking, that’s the kind of intel you need to survive. the rent situation is equally brutal: a tiny studio in downtown runs $150‑$250 a month, but most landlords want cash up front and a “cousin” in the family to vouch for you. the average monthly salary for an informal job (selling street food, hawking phone credits) is $150‑$200, which means you’re living on a razor‑thin budget, just like most locals. the job market is dominated by NGOs, informal vendors, and a handful of government offices that are barely functional. the best way to keep costs down is to share a flat with a few friends - i’m currently sharing a 2‑bedroom in Carrefour with two other digital nomads who also need cheap data.

Now, on to the activities. i’m breaking this into three neighborhoods that i’ve actually set foot on: *Pétion‑Ville, Carrefour, and Martissant. each zone has its own vibe, price ceiling, and level of “danger” that you’ll want to gauge before you sign up a kid. here’s the gist:

Pétion‑Ville - the “NGO‑friendly” launchpad


 Youth Soccer League (YSL) - runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 4‑6 pm on the field behind the Pétion‑Ville market. membership is $5 a month, includes a half‑size jersey and a shin‑guard. the league is supervised by a retired teacher who keeps the kids in line with a whistle that sounds like a broken horn.
Basketball - the Carrefour Community Center has a half‑court that opens at 5 pm on weekdays. no formal fee, just bring a ball and be ready to share a net with the locals. the court is lit by a single overhead bulb that flickers like a nervous heartbeat.
 Martial Arts - a small karate studio on Rue du Père‑Lachaise runs a “Kids Kick‑Box” class for $8 a session. they use old wooden dummies and a tiny sound system that plays Haitian music between drills.
Tennis - there’s a makeshift court at the edge of the Pétion‑Ville park. you can rent rackets for $2 per hour, but the balls are a mix of old yellow fuzz and fresh ones.
 Safety note - the field is gated at night, but the fence is a chainlink that wiggles like a drunk cat. always stay until the lights go out, and never leave your bike unlocked.

*Drunk advice i overheard at the bar: “if you see a kid with a glow‑stick, he’s probably in a rave, not a soccer match.” and “don’t trust the guy who offers free water at the field - it’s just tap water that’s been sitting in a rusty bucket for a week.” that’s the kind of gossip that keeps you on your toes.

External sources:
TripAdvisor review for Port‑au‑Prince Youth Soccer League - a kid’s mom said the league is “the most organized thing since the 2010 earthquake.”
Yelp: Best Basketball Courts in Carrefour - the entry says “basket‑ball, no refs, just you, the ball, and a broken net.”
r/PortauPrince: After‑school sports gossip thread - someone posted “the tennis court at Pétion‑Ville is 100% reliable if you bring your own ball.”

Carrefour - where the street turns into a playground


 Free Pick‑up Soccer - every Saturday morning, a dozen kids gather on the main road near the market and set up a makeshift pitch with cones that are actually traffic cones. the game is chaotic, the rules are “no tackling,” and the ball is whatever the kids can borrow from a nearby shop.
Street Basketball - the small court behind the grocery store (called “Le Marché”) opens from 5‑7 pm, and you can rent a ball for $1. the hoops are rust‑spotted, but the locals play with a rhythm that makes you forget about the cracks in the pavement.
 Martial Arts (Capoeira) - a hidden studio in the back of a laundromat teaches kids how to move like they’re dancing in the wind. they don’t charge cash; they take a piece of the kids’ street‑food earnings.
Kids Gym - the community gym on Rue du Centre is $10 a month and offers basic weight‑training for older teens who want to bulk up for the upcoming carnival parade.
 Safety note - the main road is a nightmare of motorbikes and police sirens, so make sure your kid’s helmet is the one with the reflective stickers (they sell them for $2 at a tiny stall by the river).

*Overheard rumor a kid on the curb shouted, “the guy who runs the free soccer is actually a former pro‑player from the Dominican Republic, but he never shows up after 5 pm.” also, “if you bring a water bottle, they’ll refill it with soda, so don’t be surprised when the kids start hyper‑sugaring.”

External sources:
Local Reddit: Carrefour youth sports gossip - a thread titled “where do the kids play after school?” with dozens of comments.
TripAdvisor: Carrefour Street Basketball Court - a tourist warned “the court is littered with broken glass, bring a spare foot.”
Haiti Forum: Martial arts groups for kids - the forum says “Capoeira is popular, but make sure to check the instructor’s license - it’s a new thing.”

Martissant - the weekend rebel zone


 Beach Soccer - drive 20 minutes west to the beach at Labadee and the kids set up a 5‑vs‑5 game on the sand. you pay $3 per kid for a “no‑kicks‑allowed” rule (the sand makes it hard). bring a spare pair of shoes because the sand gets into everything.
Weekend Volleyball - there’s a makeshift net at the edge of the market that gets pulled down after sunset. a local told me, “the net never comes back up, so we just play till the sun is gone.”
 Drum Circles - on Sundays, the youth center (called “Center of Youth & Music”) hosts a drum circle that turns into a dance‑off. it’s free, the only cost is a bottle of water and a pair of earplugs if you hate the bass.
Marathon Training - a few runners start meeting at the park early mornings for a “run‑for‑fun” group. they run 3 km around the park and then head to the nearby coffee stand for a tiny espresso ($0.80). the group is informal, but the coach (a former army officer) keeps a count of laps with a clipboard.
 Safety note - the beach area is monitored by a few security guards who double as vendors selling coconuts and bottled water. they’re not all that trustworthy - some sell counterfeit water bottles.

*Drunk advice from a local at the bar: “if you see a kid with a drum stick and a piece of broken glass, they’re just playing ‘the rhythm of the market.’” also, “the best way to keep kids safe on the beach is to bring your own sunscreen - the vendors only have cheap, expired stuff.”

External sources:
TripAdvisor: Beach Soccer at Labadee - a traveler wrote “the sand is fine, but the sun is brutal - bring hats.”
Yelp: Martissant Youth Center - the review warns “the water filter is broken, so bring bottled water.”
r/PortauPrince: “Best places to teach kids to swim” thread - a local said “the pool is only 1‑meter deep, but it’s a good start for kids.”

Weather & Near‑by Adventures


Right now the sky is a constant gray smear, like it’s been permanently filtered through a cheap coffee machine. the humidity hovers at 85 % and the temperature is stuck around 90 °F (32 °C). it’s the kind of weather that makes you sweat even when you’re sitting in an air‑conditioned café that’s only “air‑conditioned” because the fridge fan is blowing. a short drive north (about 30 minutes) gets you to the mountains where the clouds actually feel cooler - we’re talking about Carrefour’s “Hill of the Pines” that’s perfect for a weekend hike with the kids if you can stomach the bumpy road.

If you’re looking for something a bit more exotic, a 2‑hour flight south lands you in the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo. it’s a hop‑skip‑and‑a‑step from the Haitian side, and you can get a cheap flight (often under $50) if you book in advance. the flight itself is a wild ride - the plane’s interior smells like old cigars and the seat‑belts never seem to click properly.

Quick Takeaways


 *Pétion‑Ville - cheap, organized, gated field, but rent is high for a nomad who wants a laptop‑friendly café nearby.
 *Carrefour - free‑style chaos, great for kids who love street culture, but the traffic can be lethal.
 *Martissant - beach vibe, drums, a bit more spontaneous, and the best chance to see kids playing under a palm‑tree canopy.
 *Safety - always keep your phone locked, your cash in a money belt, and remember the local’s motto: “the street never sleeps, but the kids do at 9 pm.”
 *Cost* - the average after‑school program runs $5‑$10 a month per kid, which is pocket‑change compared to the $150‑$200 you’ll spend on a tiny studio if you’re a digital nomad.

Now, if you’re standing at the edge of the map and wondering where to start, just remember: the kids here are hungry for any kind of movement, and the city is hungry for any kind of cash. dive in, bring a reusable water bottle, and maybe a spare pair of shoes - you’ll thank me later when you see the smile on a kid’s face after they finally score a goal in the dusty corner of a field that has no proper goal posts.

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About the author: Zara Walsh

Loves data, hates clutter.

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