Music mogul and Grammy-winning artist Wyclef Jean is one of the most recognized faces in Haiti. Born outside Port-Au-Prince, Wyclef was 9 years old when he and his family left their village for the United States. Though he achieved his dream of making it big in music, Wyclef's passion and determination remained with his roots. In 2005, he founded a charity to raise awareness for the country and establish education, health, environmental and community programs in Haiti.

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake devastated Wyclef's beloved nation. Just a two-hour flight from Florida, Haiti is the only country to have ever gained independence through a slave rebellion. Centuries of civil war, violence, famine, political corruption and countless natural disasters have wreaked havoc on Haiti, but the country had been on the path to progress. 

A look at Haiti's resilient history  Watch

After the earthquake, Wyclef went back home with his wife and cousin. What he saw, he says, can only be described by one word: "Apocalypse."

"The best way I can explain it is for you to walk into a city, and the entire city feels like walking into a morgue. Every two blocks, 15 to 16 bodies on the floor," he says. "People running through the city holding their babies in their hands while the baby is dead."

NEXT STORY

Next Story