In 2005, Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean created the grassroots charity organization Yéle Haiti. The founder of the Grammy-winning group The Fugees coined the term Yéle in a song which was deemed to mean, “A Cry For Freedom.”
Initially, the goal of the foundation was to restore pride and hope to the Haitian people through the launch of initiatives that would allow Haiti’s citizens to empower themselves. Scholarships were created, as well as endowments for arts and culture, food distribution services and emergency relief.
While these investments were made at a time that the people of Haiti deemed to be arduous, suffering from tropical storms, hurricanes, political revolutions and other natural disasters and health disasters, they could not have anticipated the devastation that was to beset them on January 12, 2010.
Haiti, one of the poorest and most under developed nations in the world, was hit with a mammoth earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale decimating it’s capital Port au Prince. Among the structures damaged in the quake were the Haitian Presidential Palace, the United Nations Embassy (which was a 5 story edifice), and several hospitals. Already plagued with poor health care services, the destruction of existing medical facilities will only further exacerbate a bleak situation in aid and recovery of injured victims. A consensus on the death toll has not yet been tallied but fatalities are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Unfortunately, among the confirmed dead is the chief of the UN mission in Haiti, Ambassador Hedi Annabi. Haitian President Rene Preval is reported to be safe and in contact with President Obama to coordinate the rescue efforts.
President Barrack Obama has pledged unwavering support from the U.S. and has deployed air craft providing food, water, clothing and medical supplies, while Haitian celebrity, Wyclef Jean and his Yele Haiti Foundation have taken to the internet with pleas for donations. On the official Yele Haiti Foundation facebook page it’s posted status is:
“Yele Haiti Please help Haiti in their time of need. You can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or get more info by visiting www.yele.org”
Undoubtedly, Wyclef Jean will also be donating funds from his personal fortune and it has been reported that he will be donating proceeds from the sale of his records and ringtones during this period to the Haiti relief effort. Digicell, an Irish company that provides cellular coverage in the Caribbean pledged to donate $5 million to the rescue efforts. The U.N. has released $10 million in emergency funds to establish immediate operations in Haiti. Its World Food Program is sending a cargo plane full of high energy biscuits to the island today. Each biscuit packs enough nutritional value to feed a person for an entire day. The first shipment should feed 30,000 people for a week. Reports are coming in that numerous countries are gearing up to lend support.
