The Grammy Award–Winning Haitian Musician Discusses the Hard Work Needed
To Help His Country Recover
London—Feb. 10, 2010—Grammy Award–winning Haitian artist Wyclef Jean spoke to young leaders at the inaugural international youth summit One Young World today. The summit attracted nearly 1,000 young people and has addressed major issues such as climate, health, global business, the future of media, the future of politics and interfaith dialogue.
Jean joined world leaders Kofi Annan, Sir Bob Geldof and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to talk about his experience as a leader, as well as share lessons learned along the way. After the presentation, Jean listened to the young leaders as they shared their own experiences and asked questions.
During the live, interactive satellite address, Jean touched on many important points that relate to young people while also answering questions, several of which related to last month’s earthquake in Haiti.
James Alcime, a Haitian delegate, opened the Q&A session by asking how old and young leaders alike can ensure that Haiti receives the relief aid promised to it. “Ending corruption in Haiti is an important step in ensuring the people who are in need receive help and supplies,” said Jean. “It begins with the government and NGOs, including my NGO.”
Jean went on, stating that in order to make an impact, it takes more than money. He made this point in response to 23-year-old Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop owner Antonio McBroom, who asked how he could leverage his initiative—of holding benefit days with proceeds going to Haiti after the disaster—into real help. It takes more than funds, Jean said: “We have to act. We have to put physical participation and mind to the ground to make a change.”
The hard-work theme of the interactive event continued when Jean noted that musicians today cannot simply sing about making a difference but must go to Africa or any place in need and truly act. “If musicians sing about change in Africa,” he said, “I won’t be convinced until I see them on the ground helping people.”
Jean closed by talking about his life at the same age as the young leaders he was addressing, as well as his time with the Fugees: “Fugees is short for refugees….We took a word with negative connotations and turned it around and made it our voice. I took every opportunity to promote my passion of Haiti through music and urge all the young people to do the same through their chosen medium.”
One Young World closes today after its inaugural three-day international summit. Passing resolutions, forming new coalitions and learning from peers and elders were all part of the unprecedented summit.
To learn more about One Young World, please visit www.oneyoungworld.com and www.youtube.com/oneyoungworld. Or follow OYW on Twitter at twitter.com/oneyoungworld.
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About One Young World
One Young World (www.oneyoungworld.com), nicknamed Young Davos by some media outlets, is the world’s first global youth leadership summit. Bringing together several hundred delegates age 25 and under from the world’s 192 countries, One Young World combines the social power of the Internet with the energy and ideas of global youth to address the most challenging issues of today. Founded by David Jones, global CEO of Havas Worldwide, and Kate Robertson, Euro RSCG group chairman, One Young World focuses on plenary sessions at which delegates are guided by a group of international luminaries including Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof. The inaugural London summit on Feb. 8-10, 2010, will be open to the entire globe and people of all ages through online streaming and real-time updates.
About Euro RSCG Worldwide
Euro RSCG Worldwide is a leading integrated marketing communications agency and was the first agency to be named Global Agency of the Year by both Advertising Age and Campaign in the same year. Euro RSCG is made up of 233 offices in 75 countries and provides advertising, marketing, corporate communications and interactive solutions to clients including Air France, BNP Paribas, Charles Schwab, Citigroup, Danone Group, Heineken USA, IBM, Jaguar, Kraft Foods, Lacoste, L’Oréal, Merck, PSA Peugeot and sanofi-aventis. Euro RSCG Worldwide is the largest unit of Havas, a world leader in communications (Euronext: HAV.PA) (Paris: HAV.PA).
