The former lead rapper and guitarist of the music group Fugees, Wyclef Jean is also an active champion for education, particularly in his native Haiti. The foster son of a minister, Wyclef did not experience the predicament of his fellow Haitians as they moved to the United States when Wyclef was nine.

In 2005, Wyclef established the Yele Haiti Foundation in hopes of alleviating the poor plight of Haitians in terms of education, economic status, and nutrition. The Foundation was started after Hurricane Jeanne hit the country in 2005.

Education in Haiti is hard to get by. Admittance to 95% of the schools demands payment, even from the poorest of poor. Wyclef strives to help families send their children to school and attain education. His first project for the foundation was the school scholarships for 3,600 students from Gonaives, Haiti. Wyclef secured the aid of Comcel, a Haiti-based mobile phone services company, for funds.

Currently, Wyclef’s foundation covers the expenses of almost 7,000 students. But apart from providing scholarships, Wyclef believes that facilities and teachers are pivotal factors in educating Haitian children.

The foundation covers university scholarships for poor but deserving Haitian students. Wyclef’s foundation provides scholars with access to a computer lab, library, study hall, guest speakers, academic counseling, as well as internship and job placement support.

Alongside educational scholarships, Wyclef has also provided financial aid for school rebuilding projects in collaboration with international nonprofit groups in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne in 2005.

Wyclef has also been pivotal in updating the antiquated educational system in the country by funding CAFT, a NGO that trains teachers and educators in new teaching methods. There are now 32 schools that have embraced the new academic form of learning.

Exposure to technology is also another means of Wyclef in helping his fellow Haitians rise from poverty. Along with other charitable organizations, Wyclef has been able to set a state-of-the-art full computer center at a high school in Croix-des-Bouquets, his hometown.