Cedar Hill Raises $1,600 to Sponsor Student in Ghana

students collected and donated coins this week to sponsor a student in Ghana, West Africa.

The student, 9-year-old Musah Abu, is sponsored through Pagus:Africa. Cedar Hill's Character Education Committee and Student Council has held fundraisers for the student the last two years.

In reaching out globally, students have learned about Ghana and incorporated Ghanaian games, stories and beading into some of their fundraising activities, kindergarten teacher Cathy Lundquist said.

The latest fundraiser, Change for a Change, invited residents to donate coins in coin counting machine. Students from each class donated change, and piggy banks were set up at the and the . They raised more than $1,600, which is enough to sponsor the student and provide additional support for the Bishop Forson School, organizers said.

In a party at the bank Thursday evening to celebrate the fundraiser, fourth-grader Shane Harper was honored for donating the most money.

"Everybody in my family helped," he said. He said it feels great to be part of Musah Abu's future.