Rapper Lil Jon has been using his star power and wealth to help
children in underdeveloped countries gain access to proper education.
A school he helped fund in partnership with the charity, Pencils
of Promise, broke ground last month in Ghana, Lil Jon told CNN exclusively.
“I’m all about helping children,” he said. “Children are our
future and every child deserves to have an environment where they can learn and
flourish and gain knowledge.”
Mafi Atitekpo DA Primary School will enroll 313
children. It is the second of two schools in the village of Mafi Atitekpo in
Ghana, according to the charity.
The first school, called
Abomayaw D.A. Kindergarten, opened last October.
Lil Jon donated $70,000 to help get the two schools off the
ground. Pencils of Promise was founded by Adam Braun, the brother of music
manager Scooter Braun, who famously launched the careers of Justin Bieber and
Ariana Grande. The organization’s mission is to provide educational tools for
kids around the world.
Lil Jon first visited Ghana in October last year, and what he saw
on that trip inspired him to pitch in and help.
“When I saw the conditions where these children were trying to
learn, one community they had a big mango tree and two classes were sitting
under the mango tree and that’s not a condition conducive with learning,” he
told CNN.”Kids are going to get distracted, plus it’s extremely hot. It
compelled me to want to do more.”
Jon, who has a son in college at New York University, says that
being a father influenced his decision to help.
“Children shouldn’t have to suffer for any reason,” he 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.”
Lil Jon came to fame as a rapper and a DJ best known for hits like
“Get Low,” “Snap Yo Fingers” and “Turn Down For What.” He won a Grammy in 2005
for best rap collaboration for the hit song “Yeah!” by Usher and featuring
Ludacris.
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