Nov

13

Wyclef Jean, Yéle Haiti

Filed Under Inspiration 

The November 2008 issue of Condé Nast Traveler has a one-page conversation with Wyclef Jean, known to most people as the co-founder of the 90s hip-hop group The Fugees.

What got my attention in the Traveler interview was Wyclef Jean’s founding of Yéle Haiti (yéle comes from the Creole word for shout). Yéle sponsors projects in Haiti that are making a difference in education, health, environment and community development.

Having invested 10 days in Haiti last January with my family, I was overwhelmed by Haiti’s need. It’s the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Recent headlines continue to highlight the need for justice and mercy.

I’m grateful for people like Wyclef Jean who pay attention to that inner voice. That inner voice, in Wyclef’s case, that said, “You can’t leave these kids behind because you could have been one of them.”

Comments

3 Responses to “Wyclef Jean, Yéle Haiti”

  1. Tabitha Chery on January 4th, 2009 1:34 pm

    Dear Brad,my name is Tabitha Chery and I an an Haitian-American teenager desperate to find a way to help the people of my country.When I was younger my parents took me back to their villages in Haiti and as I was there I saw firsthand what conditions my own cousins were living in.Even as a young girl I could see that what they were going through wasn’t right.Since my trip to Haiti I always wondered I could to help my people.So now Brad I’m reaching out to you to help me ,help Haiti.If you could please e-mail me back to let me know how I could do some hands on work with Yele Haiti that would really make one of my dreams come true.God Bless.

  2. Stephanie on January 12th, 2009 8:12 pm

    Dear Tabitha,
    Visit our website at yele.org to know more about Yele’s projects and actions. Yes you can help make a difference… for sure.

    and Brad, thank you for your interest in our movement and the way you present Yele Haiti and Wyclef Jean’action.
    If you have not seen the CBS60 of January 11th ,

    To view streaming video of “Wyclef’s Hope for Haiti” aired on the CBS 60 Minutes program on January 11, 2009:
    http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4713518n%3fsource=search_video

  3. Angus Nelson on January 13th, 2009 12:49 pm

    Thank you for that Wyclef video. It’s, once again, stirred my heart for Haiti. My Father-in-law is Haitian, who just rededicated his life to God over the Holiday. As a family, we visited in April and have been seeking God on what it would look like to make a difference. It’s an ongoing conversation.

    My dad has two schools in South Florida, but he’s been running from a call to return to Haiti to start schools there. Next week, he’s meeting in Haiti with two major church leaders, possibly the beginnings of fulfillment to God’s call.

    Wyclef is right on the money with “human development” first. Build the younger generation’s self-worth first, then teach, train and create jobs. We’ll get there.

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