Wyclef Jean is giving back to his fellow Haitians; the superstar rapper committed build a school in Haiti! With his well-known foundation, Yele Haiti, Wyclef wants to create, as he says, “something that’s sustainable for kids…It’s going to be called the Yéle Center. Hopefully I can start the fundraiser in six months…The next goal is to try to raise money so we can build a physical facility.”

According to the Yele Foundation, “Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere…the majority of the country’s residents live on less than $1 per day. Unemployment is close to 80 percent, and more than half the population is under 21 years old.”

Wyclef’s Yele Foundation takes a holistic approach to combat the situation of extreme global poverty in Haiti. They have instituted projects to take care of basic needs, like food, clothing, and shelter, but they have also made sure to institute initiatives which promote the arts in education. The Foundation has also given local stars the opportunity to perform in concerts, like Yelefest. Last year, Wyclef performed with the talented, Haitian musicians. Poverty is a complex issue which must be addressed in many different ways. By partnering with the local community rather than simply giving monetary handouts to the people, the Yele Foundation is doing it right…As Wyclef would say, fighting poverty takes more than the “dolla bills, y’all!”

By CGG Contributing Reporter Shamsa Mangalji