Wyclef Jean's Hopes For Haiti

Scott Pelley On The Rock Star's Efforts To Help His Homeland

(CBS)  This story was first published on Jan. 11, 2009. It was updated on July 31, 2009.

To live the life of Wyclef Jean is to believe that almost anything is possible. Wyclef is a Grammy Award winning multimillionaire rock star who comes from Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. He's one of thousands of Haitians who immigrate to the U.S. And many never return. But not Wyclef.

As 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley first reported in January, he goes back to Haiti often, using his personal wealth to help his impoverished country.

Wyclef's passion and determination have made him a hero to millions of Haitians.

Pelley got to see firsthand how they feel about Wyclef Jean when they visited Cite Soleil, one of the most infamous slums on Earth.

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Cite Soleil is a sprawling slum by the bay of Port-au-Prince. Half a million people live there, many of them next to a garbage dump. The name means "Sun City," but despite its name, this is a breeding ground for disease and despair, gangs and violence.

"They know you're here," Pelley remarked, hearing the cheers. "Man, they are coming by the hundreds, by the thousands."

They're coming for Wyclef. When he's around, it's as if he's the only ray of hope in "Sun City."

"Yeah, they're not gonna give up. Yet. So we gonna get out and do a little walking," Wyclef told Pelley, as the crowd around them grew and grew.

They found themselves in the middle of a spontaneous homecoming for a Haitian icon who left the island nation nearly 30 years ago.

Wyclef Jean is one of the world's most recognizable stars, performing before sold-out audiences, selling more than 50 million records in a 20-year career. His music is an eclectic mix, rooted in his Haitian DNA. Known primarily as a hip hop artist, he has a gift for guitar that reminds many of Jimi Hendrix.

"I came from Haiti. English is not my first language. I came to the land of the free, the land of the opportunities. I made somethin' of myself," Wyclef told Pelley.

Asked what he thinks would have happened had he never left Haiti, he said, "I think about that all the time. I always think 'Why you, Clef? There's close to ten million people in that place. Why you?'"

He comes from a country both beautiful and destitute. The average Haitian lives on less than $300 a year. Half the people scratch out a meager living on the land. The others are packed into cities like the capital, Port-au-Prince. When 60 Minutes came with Wyclef, he was greeted like a head of state. To most Haitians, he's the living incarnation of their dream, someone who got out, struck it rich, but didn't forget where he came from.

"These kids, they could identify with me, 'cause they say, 'He looks like us, and he talks our language,'" he told Pelley.

In 2005, Wyclef created a charity that seems designed to attack all of Haiti’s problems at once. It's called "Yele Haiti". He spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars of his own money to start it. And now, with donations and sponsors, it has an annual budget of $3 million.

[jaudley]

To Scott Pelley,
The Rev. Rebecca Crosby,Associat Minister of the Old Lyme, CT Congregational Church and her husband fund a school in Haiti. The story of their work on that tragic island would be a perfect sequel to Wyclef Jean's story. I can't do justice to their story. Please call Becky and decide for yourself if I am right.860-434-8686. your

[11thGroupSF]

Hey Middy! I am going to the Green Inaugural Ball Saturday night. Wyclef is great individual. On a side note.. I knew a Middy in High School. Did you go to WJ?

[11thGroupSF]

Hey Middy! I am going to the Green Inaugural Ball Saturday night. Wyclef is great individual. On a side note.. I knew a Middy in High School. Did you go to WJ?

[Cas2dy]

Mr. Jean''''s comment of why me of all the people in this country, was so refreshing to hear instead of I deserve this because I am me. I quess it proves that class and character has nothing to do with money.

Posted by davemanfoot

Wyclef is a good guy. I met him at a wedding once, he was guest just like us. I knew my daughter would be so disappointed if i didn''t get his autgraph, so I waited for the right opportunity and asked. he very kindly obliged, and I know that it must have irritated him when he was simply out celebrating a friends wedding, just being a regular person for a change. I guess that''s just him, in Haiti or in America, his heart is always out there for others. maybe when he gets a little older, he might rethink that President thing...

[agingyouths]

The story (Wyclef Jean''s Hopes for Haiti) by "60 Minutes was both effective and manipulative. It was an apt profile of Wyclef Jean, an individual who appropriately deserves a lot of praise for his work and the valuable service his organization provides. The report was a manipulative piece of journalism, which read like a manuscript that''s been read many times before: it details the story of a triumphant hero returning to his homeland who stands as this lone voice of hope as he is threatened to be overwhelmed by the misery around him. Informative, somewhat. Simplistic, yes. Dramatic, wholly. That''s "60 Minutes" on Haiti.

[middyb]

I heard Wyclef will be in DC on the 17th - isn''t he performing at The Green Inaugural Ball?? He is amazing!!

[soulshadow55]

To all the Haitian nationals and Haitian-Americans - may I ask you a question.

How much of Haiti''s problems do you think are a result of bad leadership? Do you think that much of Haiti''s problems began with the Papa Doc Duvalier or does it go back further? Where do you think Haiti''s problems started? I don''t mean any disrespect, I just want your opinion.

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere .

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[terivitela]

Thank you Wyclef for all you are doing in assisting the Haitian people and for your foundation YELE HAITI!God blessed you with a wonderful talent, may He continue to bless you and may you be successful in your mission.

[jompbonnet]

W,
It''s [e-mail]. I''m up in sussex county. old web site is www.immeds.com. Jean-Paul Bonnet

[jompbonnet]

Bravo Wycleff,
Haiti can and willbecome the beacon of light. What we do for the least of men we do for him. This is the hour, this is the place. We have been blessed with the technology, now let us create the human initiative. To take third world to new world. It is in fact a revolution of thought or the mind as you say. What say you of a global peace concert to help the poor of HAiti. Summer solstice 2009. Let me know. Stopped at your dads church not to long ago, hoping to catch you. Peace, ask Gwynne she knows

[davemanfoot]

Mr. Jean''s comment of why me of all the people in this country, was so refreshing to hear instead of I deserve this because I am me. I quess it proves that class and character has nothing to do with money.

[js11411]

Thank you for beginning to shine some light on Haiti. Wyclef''s commitment to and love for his country, particularly to the youth is inspiring. Kouraj, Wyclef! The reporting, however, fell short. I understand that the reporter was trying to play "devil''s advocate" in the face of Wyclef''s optimism and hope, but PLEASE, can just one journalist refrain from reciting the usual script when talking about Haiti? I refer to comments like "poorest country in the Western hemisphere," "dangerous," "the developed world is tired of Haiti." While these phrases might be true, they tell us NOTHING about the place that is Haiti or the people who are Haitian. I find these stock phrases insulting, to say the least, because their use implies that there is no need to know anything else, or that there is nothing else to know, or that these conditions are inherently Haitian, which they are not. Continued use of these phrases simply fuels the ridiculous notion that people from Haiti are not really people like the rest of us. The core truth, best expressed by a Haitian proverb, is that every person is a person: Tout moun se moun.

[lescayes]

I traveled to Haiti in 1998, with a mission trip. The country is beautiful. People from Haiti are not like the rest of us...they're more loving, giving, and friendly than most. In one week I became close to Lounia, Micheline and Madam Etennie. I will most likely see them next in heaven, and will love the reunion. I think Satan has had a firm hold on the government for awhile. The people have suffered, but are not in despair. It's that age old battle of good and evil. Many in Les Cayes were eager to know more about the Jesus I came to share. Some were not. Yes, most are poor, but not poor in spirit. If the government would spend some money on infastructure and build a resort or two on the coast of beautiful Haiti, the Haitians would do the rest. I will always remember that week as a glimpse of heaven, truly. God bless you Wyclef, and your vision. Tout moun se moun.

[soulshadow55]

cont''d.

Wyclef is "Renaissance Man." A great musician and humanitarian who loves his native land. I admire the fact that he''s more concerned about Haiti than big cars, lots of women and bling. His heart and mind are in the right place and I love that. I''m just a middle-class working secretary. I live in Washington, D.C. but every month I try and send his non-profit a little money. Sometimes $20, sometimes $30. I figure every little bit helps. It may help a child go to school another year, plant a tree, buy someone a flock of chickens or a pig - something that will help them feed themselves - not a hand-out but a hand-up. If you have it in your heart, please go to Wyclef''s non-profit organization''s website: Yele Haiti at www.yele.org - you can donate money for schools, reforestation, work programs, food programs, small business programs. The time for judging people is over, the time for action is now. Haiti didn''t get this bad overnight and it won''t become better overnight either. Remember, by birth you are lucky to be born in the U.S. As a black American I see these people and I know that there but for the grace of God goes me. My ancestors could have been dropped off in Haiti and I could be living in that nightmare so I feel an obligation to these people as I know they are my brothers and sisters. I cannot not give!