n
2005, Jean established the
Yéle Haiti Foundation. In its first year of operation, the foundation, with funding by
Comcel, provided scholarships to 3,600 children in
Gonaïves, Haiti, after the devastation by
Hurricane Jeanne. In its second year of operation, it is almost doubling the amount of the scholarships and spreading them throughout Haiti, providing tuition in 5 regions. The foundation aims to provide 6,800 scholarships to children in
Port-au-Prince, Gonaïves,
Les Cayes,
Port-de-Paix, and
Cap-Haïtien. Yéle Haiti, and its predecessor the Wyclef Jean Foundation, have been involuntarily dissolved by the the
Florida Division of Corporations on multiple occasions for failing to file required state disclosure reports.
[19] Of the $1,142,944 in total revenue the foundation collected in 2006, at least $410,000 was paid directly to Jean and his business partner for rent, production services, and Jean's appearance at a benefit concert.
[20]
In a 2009 interview with Allhiphop.com writer
Han O'Connor, Wyclef stated that his priority for the organization was to raise money to build the Yéle Center, which would be a facility that consists of a sports center, Wyclef Jean School of the Arts, a cultural center focusing on the environment and an internet café. During the interview he claimed that he feels the key to improving the situation in Haiti is to build sustainable opportunity.
[21]
After the
earthquake on January 12, 2010 in
Haiti, Jean called on others to donate to his foundation's Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund, imploring "We must act now.
