Wyclef Jean was welcomed in Haiti with cheers yesterday (Nov 12), and was even carried on the shoulders of his countrymen, according to the Associated Press.
This is Clef’s first trip to Haiti since he was named roving ambassador by President Rene Preval in January. The visit began with Wyclef
meeting with legislators, and was followed by a luncheon with
businessmen, the United Nations envoy and nearly every major foreign
ambassador for aid.
“We need all your money, we need all y’all’s support, but let’s put it
to programs … that teach kids how to move the country forward,” said Clef to the dignitaries.
The luncheon took place in Port-au-Prince, but Wyclef also visited the port slum of Cite Soleil, where he was joined by a crowd of 1,000 people. At one point, he bowed his head in prayer.
“I asked for benediction upon this place, for all these kids,”
Also along for the trip was Czech model Petra Nemcova, who began her own charity after the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. Together with Wycelf, she visited a cooperative restaurant sponsored by his charity group, Yele Haiti.
The restaurant will employ 15 local women when it opens in December. It will sell meals ranging from 70 cents to $1.40.
