Wyclef to support Haiti children

Wyclef Jean wants to establish a youth scholarship

Rap star Wyclef Jean has pledged to support young people in Haiti during his first visit since the country's president made him roving ambassador.

Speaking to the Associated Press, the star said he wanted to "teach kids how to move the country forward".

The 35-year-old, who was born in Haiti, said his charity Yele-Haiti would help finance the youth projects.

He aims to offer counselling for jailed child gang members, plus football training and computer facilities.

Lobbying politicians

"If you want to change a country, unfortunately, you're not going to be able to help eight million people at one time," he said.

"But if you can get one or two or three and start to make that change, that will make the difference," he added.

Jean said his next step as ambassador would be to start lobbying politicians in Washington to help promote development in Haiti.

"I'm always going to assist my country in the best way I can," he said.

The singer gained fame as a member of the hip hop trio The Fugees, who won Grammys in 1996 for their album The Score and single Killing Me Softly.

Haiti's government credits Jean with successfully lobbying the US Congress for a "passage of a trade" bill expected to help create textile manufacturing jobs in Haiti.