Lil Jon donated $70,000 to help get the two schools started. Photo by Timothy Shivers for Pencils Of Promise
Atlanta rapper Lil Jon has used his star power yet again to help children in underdeveloped nations gain access to a quality education.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Jon confirmed the opening of a school he helped to fund in partnership with global nonprofit Pencils for Promise in Ghana. The school, which opened its doors last month, is the second of two academies in the Ghanaian village Mafi Atitekpo, according to the charity.
The first school opened in back in October.
“I’m all about helping children,” he told the news network. “Children are our future and every child deserves to have an environment where they can learn and flourish and gain knowledge.”
Jon’s latest school, called Mafi Atitekpo DA Primary School, is expected to enroll 313 new students, according to CNN. The rapper donated nearly $70,000 to get both schools up and running.
After visiting Ghana for the first time last year, Jon saw the less-than-conducive learning environments for the children there and, as the father of scholar, decided to dig deep into pockets to pitch in. He added that being a father definitely played a part in his decision to help.
“Children shouldn’t have to suffer for any reason,” Jon said. “One of these kids could grow up to be a scientist, a lawyer, an astronaut, the president of their country. I could create an environment where all these things could happen.”
Pencils of Promise, founded by Adam Braun in 2008, is a charity committed to building schools and increasing educational opportunities for people all across the world. The nonprofit has built 429 schools in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaraugua since its inception.
