London, Sep 24 (IANS) Hollywood star Matt Damon is using his popularity to help provide clean water to people living in poverty-stricken Haiti.

This is an initiative by the actor as part of his non-profit company water.org, which he launched earlier this year.

'We want to challenge everyone here in this room tonight to support this commitment to the people of Haiti by visiting water.org,' Damon was quoted as saying by femalefirst.co.uk.

Damon announced his plans for Haiti at the launch of the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative in New York Tuesday, in the presence of world leaders, including US president Barack Obama and former leader Bill Clinton.

The project has been nicknamed the Haiti Challenge and aims to provide clean water and sanitation facilities to 50,000 residents in the country.

'Water.org will deliver at least $2 million to fund this commitment,' Damon added.