January 12, 2012

In the two years following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, the Yéle Haiti Foundation has been providing humanitarian aid with the intent of bringing relief to those most in need.  With the collective efforts of our supporters, the international and Haitian Diaspora communities and a committed team on the ground in Haiti, Yéle has had a significant impact through a wide variety of means. 

One of Yéle Haiti’s most significant accomplishments of 2011 is the recently completed Jean et Marie orphanage in La Plaine, Haiti. Severely damaged by the earthquake, Jean et Marie was a dilapidated structure of makeshift accommodations for children.  Yéle Haiti intervened, reconstructed and enlarged the facility, adding classrooms, a kitchen, expanded dormitory space, and an infirmary, along with upgrades to the latrines and showers. The orphanage – a well designed and constructed facility of its type – is currently preparing to soon accommodate up to 80 orphaned children.

The successful redevelopment of the Jean et Marie orphanage -– a physical testament to Yéle’s continuing devotion to Haiti’s recovery – nicely complements our new strategic focus on vocational training.  With programs in construction, hospitality, and now communications under its belt, Yéle Haiti is quickly establishing a recognized expertise in an area sorely needed.  These investments in the human capital of Haiti enable us to address one of the country’s greatest challenges, employment.  

We’re pleased about our success in this niche area, and more importantly, about the impact we’re having in terms of helping people help themselves.  It’s a long-term, sustainable model, with lasting impacts for the people of Haiti.  And it’s priority #1 for Yéle Haiti in the year 2012.

We recognize that there have been questions about the management of funds at Yéle and their use in Haiti in years past.  Rest assured that we are not only committed to Haiti’s recovery, we are committed to helping realize it in an accountable and transparent fashion as an organization.  To that end, we have undertaken a vast restructuring in the interest of moving forward.

To begin, Yéle Haiti’s Board of Directors has begun a transitional process, and a new leadership group is presently being vetted.  While that process unfolds, we are also appointing a Blue Ribbon Commission comprised of individuals without any prior connection to Yéle Haiti, but with strong business and/or non-profit experience, and an intimate knowledge of the Haitian plight.  The Commission’s task will be to weigh Yéle’s strategic options going forward.

Lastly, as he resumes focus on his principal creative craft and musical genius, Wyclef Jean, Yéle Haiti’s legendary founder, has decided to limit his service to the organization going forward to a role as an Ambassador-at-Large.  His primary goals will be to foster awareness of the organization and to occasionally help us raise funds.  In this new role, appropriately timed with the two-year anniversary of the earthquake, Wyclef has generously committed a percentage of his earnings over the next five years to Yéle Haiti.

Yéle Haiti is wholly dedicated to serving the people of Haiti and the country’s long-term recovery.  We are hopeful that our organizational restructuring will inspire new confidence and rekindle optimism among our supporters to help us reach our underlying goal of working together to improve the overall quality of life for the Haitian people.  

With genuine appreciation for your continued support,

Derek Johnson

Yéle Haiti CEO