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Posted on Mon, May. 05, 2008

Young Haitian soccer players get lesson in shopping

When he got to Target, Andy Premier knew exactly what he wanted: an iPod.

The 15-year-old had seen a few kids with music players in Haiti. He would have one now.

Andy was among a group of 18 Haitian teenagers who flew to Miami over the weekend to play in a friendly exhibition soccer match organized by the city of Miami. A Haitian cellphone company, Voilà, paid for most of the airfare.

The teens hail from some rough-and-tumble quarters in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area -- like the seaside slum Cité Soleil. A social program that aims to develop the kids through the use of sports helped give them the brief reprieve.

''It's a life-changing experience,'' Robert Duval, founder of Athletique d'Haiti, said about the weekend trip in Target's furniture aisle. ``It's like I'm opening up the world for these kids. They get perspective. . . Most of the kids haven't been out of Cité Soleil, much less the country.''

As soon as they stepped into the lobby of this Target in midtown Miami, the teenagers stood wide-eyed. Each had a gift card valued at $100, plus some extra cash jubilant spectators tossed on the field at their triumphant Saturday game. They beat a team of local high school kids 4-1. Some of the money spectators threw on the field will go to the Haitian kids' families.

So Andy moved ahead, snaking through the colorful ailes in search of technology.

''It's beautiful here,'' Andy said about the United States.

When he reached the electronics department, he passed on the iPod, opting instead on a Creative Zen MP3 player. He tugged at the packaged item, dangling from a hook. It had a lock on it.

Andy got a sales clerk to unlock the lock, and they went to a nearby check-out counter.

''You sure you want it?'' said sales clerk Richard Russo, 19.

Tracy Lozama, a community liaison for Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, translated. Andy nodded.

Lozama asked Andy if he had a way to download music onto the music player.

He said, yes, he did. His brother had a computer.

The sales clerk rang up Andy.

Total: $79.99, plus $5.60 in tax. Balance: $14.41.

And then Andy wanted to open the package. He handed it to Russo.

''I can't open it,'' Russo said. ``I need a knife.''

Andy, of course, didn't understand.

But Garry Pierre, who also works on the sales floor, approached the two. He opened the plastic container with his teeth, and gave the music player to Andy.

For a minute, the fun stopped.

At the electronics department check-out counter, Duval told the teenagers they needed to buy items that were ''essential'' -- such as clothes and books. Andy already has his music player, a couple others each had a portable DVD player.

''I'm buying these for my mom,'' whispered one teen, earrings and a shirt in his arms.

Andy watched on, wearing newly purchased headphones. The music player silent without being charged.

''Do we give the kids the choice with the money?'' Duval wondered aloud. ``The thing is we didn't tell them. It's our fault.''

So then the teens migrated to the clothes and shoe department. Sandals for the sister and mom.

One sales clerk brought Andy to a Creole-speaking co-worker, Jeanide Dorvil, 47. Andy was carrying a wall clock with a wooden frame, but wasn't sure if he had enough money. It was $12.

He did.

''The clock is for my godmother -- she bought my soccer shoes,'' Andy said, pointing to his silver sneakers, purchased used.

Besides, Andy said, his godmother wanted a clock but didn't have the money.

Some of the teens still had money. Junior Louis, 15, had a pair of white sandals for his sister.

Dorvil, having just learned the kids were visiting from Haiti, escorted Louis to the check-out lane. The price came to $6.74. Dorvil counted out seven dollar bills and placed them on the conveyer belt.

The cashier gave Louis his 26 cents, and he pocketed the change.

Junior then joined his teammates, all carrying plastic bags with candy-cane colored logos.