Anderson Cooper on the assassination of his math teacher Yves Volel
In a Nutshell
Anderson Cooper visits Mitch Albom's fortified Half Faith Haiti orphanage amid rampant gang violence in Port-au-Prince, where 90% of the capital is gang-controlled and gunfire echoes constantly, reflecting Haiti's dire security crisis just two hours from Florida. He reflects on his high school math teacher Yves Volel, a Haitian presidential candidate assassinated in 1987, and shares his early reporting in Haiti, including the 2010 earthquake that killed 200-220,000. Despite chaos, orphanage students on U.S. scholarships embody resilience, aspiring to return and rebuild their homeland.
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Story about an orphanage in Haiti called Half Faith Haiti, run by bestselling author Mitch Albom, who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie among many other best-selling books. It is an oasis of education and stability for kids amid chaos in Haiti.
We're trying to prepare them to be the next generation in Haiti that can hopefully change things.
Most kids have not left the orphanage in the last four years due to the security situation. Haiti is as dangerous as ever in decades of travel there. High 30ft walls, guard towers, dozens of armed guards. In two days at the orphanage, heard a lot of gunfire on the other sides of the walls.
How many staff are here? >> We have 180 and eight >> employee. That's a lot of gunshot. >> Is that gunfire? >> Yeah.
As a kid, very interested in Haiti's history. High school math teacher named Yves Volel taught algebra.
Haitian have their way to do things. We are a poor country.
Everyone at school knew he wanted to return to Haiti and do something for his country. In New York, many cab drivers were Haitian. Would ask them if they knew Evel (Yves Volel), and they all said yes. Volel worked with Haitian expatriates in New York to mobilize support for Haiti. Graduated high school in 1985. In 1987, Volel ran for president in Haiti.
My position is very strong regarding those who have stolen millions of dollars from the public fund.
Volel was shot and killed outside a police station while holding a copy of the Haitian Constitution and talking. Men came up and shot him. Recording exists of Volel talking, then a clear muffled shot.
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