Montreal: Rwandan Community vs. Haiti Responds Positively to SOKAFEST 2023

The initiative bringing together Haitian and Rwandan voices around a sports and cultural event is generating growing interest within the community. Among the participants is Aimé, an employee in Quebec and a postgraduate student, who shares his commitment and vision for a project driven by openness and collaboration.

Personally invited by the event’s president, Jean-Baptiste, he explains that he accepted without hesitation, motivated by his long-standing passion for soccer and his regular involvement in various sports activities. For him, the approach fits naturally into what he already values: “I do a lot of sports, I love soccer, and the invitation was a natural opportunity to take part in something unifying.”

According to Aimé, the organization is progressing with seriousness and energy. Participants say they are ready, motivated, and honored to be associated with an initiative that, in his view, represents a first of its kind. The meeting between the Haitian and Rwandan communities, in a space blending culture and sport, opens the door to a new kind of collaboration: a soccer match as a place for exchange, learning, and celebration of identities.

“Everyone is happy. It’s the first opportunity where two communities can meet around the same activity and share their cultural values,” he emphasizes. This sense of unity appears to be one of the pillars of the event.

Aimé highlights the human and social dimension of the project. The gathering goes beyond the sporting aspect to become a space for expression, movement, laughter, and dance. He recalls that in a society marked by individual pace, cultural diversity, and urban isolation, such moments of sharing become essential.

According to him, this type of initiative strengthens the values of inclusion, integration, and mutual recognition. The event therefore stands as a concrete contribution to intercultural understanding while showcasing collective richness.

He also mentions the tremendous possibilities for mutual enrichment between Rwandan and Haitian cultures. Both communities have vibrant dances, songs, traditions, and artistic expressions, and for him, the event is a unique opportunity to mirror them.

He expects that Rwandan dance performances, Haitian music, and spontaneous exchanges among participants will leave a strong impression and strengthen the connection between the two identities.

Aimé concludes by inviting anyone interested to join the initiative. He reminds that the players present do not represent the entire Haitian or Rwandan communities, but rather act as committed citizens engaged in a process of integration and sharing.

“We are here to invest ourselves, integrate, and share. So come and take part. It’s important.”

His call reflects a spirit of openness and inclusion, expressing the deeper meaning of the gathering: to unite, discover, and celebrate together.