Giving back: Five African-American celebrities who have built schools in Africa

Lil John

The Atlanta musician has so far built two schools in Ghana. He donated $70 000 for the construction of Abomayaw D.A. Kindergarten and Mafi Atitekpo DA Primary School.

“I’m all about helping children,” he told CNN. “Children are our future and every child deserves to have an environment where they can learn and flourish and gain knowledge.”

According to the musician, he was inspired to provide support when he visited the West African nation in 2017.

“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 said. “Kids are going to get distracted, plus it’s extremely hot. It compelled me to want to do more.”

He added that being a father was also a contributing factor.

“Children shouldn’t have to suffer for any reason,” he told CNN. “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.”