MUSICIAN WYCLEF JEAN'S EFFORT TO HELP HIS FELLOW HAITIANS IS A MISSION FROM GOD -- "60 MINUTES" SUNDAY
Rock star. Hip hop artist. Millionaire. American resident. Wyclef Jean is all of those things, but deep down, he is a Haitian and has never forgotten it. This superstar is dedicated to helping the poor people in his native Haiti; he considers it a calling from God. Scott Pelley profiles Jean's humanitarian mission and his fabulous musical success in a segment to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Jan. 11 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
"I do believe that it comes from God. This is basically what I was chosen for," the globetrotting musician who has sold 50 million records tells Pelley. Jean went back to Haiti - as he often does - but this time with 60 MINUTES to talk about his charity, "Yele Haiti."
The organization was formed by Jean in 2005 with his own money and now, thanks to his time and efforts, has a budget of $3 million a year. It feeds 50,000 people a month and offers programs, mostly for young people, designed to raise confidence and offer hope. But what does it mean? "The word 'r�l�' is Creole. R�l� is to scream," says Jean. "Because, I want you to hear us."
Jean is aware that Yele Haiti's screams must be loud. He knows it's a daunting task to break through a wall of poverty so many have failed to breach, despite billions in aid. As he tells Pelley, "What I plan to do is I'm going to make a serious dent. And I'm hoping that after I make this dent, those kids behind me could help break those walls."
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