Today at the Gansevoort Hotel in New York, Wyclef Jean announced his new campaign: Together for Haiti. The initiative is a partnership between Clef's own foundation Yele Haiti, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFO) and the Pan American Development Foundation. The goal? To bring to the people of Haiti the means to grow their own food and to effectively end the food crisis there.
"The revolution has to start with the minds of the people," Jean, who was born in Haiti, said during the press conference. "You can't have a future without starting from the ground."
Jean was accompanied by the economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs of the WFO, model and activist Petra Nemcova and other representatives from various involved organizations. After the presentation, another big name showed up, singer-songwriter Paul Simon. Jean described Simon as one of his "heroes" while Dr. Sachs hailed the former Fugee for consistently lending a hand. "Haiti is in desperate need and Wyclef is, as always, rising to the occasion," Dr. Sachs said.
Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere said Jean, adding that the farmers want to work. Bringing seeds and fertilizers to Haiti will help them feed themselves and someday, turn Haiti into an exporting country as well. "It's the teach me how to fish theory," Jean said. "Teach me how so I can teach the next man."
Jean and his Together for Haiti campaign are looking to raise $48 million in six months and the multi-talented artist is personally invested in the future of his home country. "I was born in a hut," he said. "And I went to school on a donkey."
