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My article on Jimmy Jean-Louis made the front page! Check out this week's Lakay Weekly!
Best known for his roles on TV and in the movies, actor
Jimmy Jean-Louis arrived in Haiti on Sunday for a different role. Jean-Louis is Goodwill Ambassador for Pan-American
Development Foundation (PADF). PADF, one
of the oldest NGOs in Haiti, has been working for the last 30 years on implementing
projects addressing immediate emergency needs.
As ambassador, Mr. Jean-Louis, travels the world to raise awareness among
Haitians, the diaspora, Congress, and many others about child exploitation. He also feels that he is an ambassador for
Haiti, hoping to change some of the negative stereotypes and views that may
have about Haiti and to help them see the Haiti that he loves. One of the reason he is very proud of his
role as Toussaint Louverture, in the film about the Haitian hero’s life. As he speaks of Haiti, you can see the young
boy who grew up here, moved away to pursue a dream, but who never forgot. “Haiti is in me”, he says, touching his
heart.
Jean-Louis’ stay is short, but his itinerary is quite packed. He will be revisiting some of PADF projects
started after the earthquake, such as reconstruction in the Delmas 32 area and
Haiti’s first tablet makers, Surtab; a success story with their LEAD program.
Jean-Louis is also President and founder of Hollywood Unites
for Haiti, a non-profit named after a soccer team he played for in Los Angeles
called Hollywood United Football Club. Originally
it was created to promote sports and cultural activity, but after the 2010
earthquake, the objectives were widened to include efforts to help rebuild. One such example is a rural schoolhouse they
helped rebuild after it was destroyed in the earthquake, and another in
Petion-Ville’s Cadet area. The school is
completely powered by solar energy and provides free education to over 100
children. The foundation has partnered with The Heart Fund, to draw attention
to the issue of health care access and heart disease prevention. Together they
bring heart specialist to Haiti to provide care and perform difficult surgeries
in partnership with local clinics and doctors.
With all he has going on, I asked Mr. Jean-Louis what he had
planned next. He rattled off a long list
of upcoming projects and other things he would like to do. Finally he just sighed, took a deep breath as
if calculating it all and said, “It’s hard to pin point exactly what’s next, I
just know that I will be here and helping Haiti”.
See what Haitian Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis tells me about what's next for him in Haiti.
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Mr. Jean-Louis will also be meeting with the Miss Haiti organization. The actor will be hosting the Miss Haiti Pageant being held on September 6, 2014.
He is currently working on a personal documentary film about his homeland. Also, expect to see him in the new series Extant starring Halle Berry.
For more info on Jimmy Jean-Louis:
He is currently working on a personal documentary film about his homeland. Also, expect to see him in the new series Extant starring Halle Berry.
For more info on Jimmy Jean-Louis:
https://twitter.com/haitianhero
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Jean-Louis/107405112616067?ref=ts&fref=ts
By MYSTIQUE
ALSO AT:
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