SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Whitney Jason raised $2,500 for the Western Royal Montessori School in Takoradi, Ghana, through a large party and music show last Saturday on deck of her mother's home.

Now 20 years old, Jason had volunteered at the school from September 2007 through to February 2008, where she taught children and established a special needs class.

Keith and Whitney Jason organized a fundraiser to help a Ghanaian school where she volunteered for five months. Pictured here during her time in Ghana is Jason, having fun with a few children she worked with. Pictured are Nephi, left, Whitney Jason, Ellsie, and Joycelen. - photo courtesy of Whitney Jason

"I established a special needs class because they didn't really grasp the concept that children learn at different paces, in different ways," said Jason. "My biggest accomplishment was probably teaching two boys, Justin and Muhammad, to read."

She now hopes to continue helping the school from here in the North.

"Western Royal Montessori school, the school that I lived at and worked at for five months (while volunteering) is expanding," said Jason. "But they are currently at a standstill due to financial decisions, so I had a fundraiser and they don't know about it yet."

Jason is halfway to her goal of $5,000, the rest of it she is trying hard to raise through word of mouth, and once she reaches it she'll send the money to the school.

The party, advertised with a large banner hanging from the Jason abode that exclaimed "Rock for Ghana," went on from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., when it was stopped by police due to noise complaints.

Three local bands played - Dana Sipos played with the Dawgwoods, a new band on the scene called Tanks played, and the show finished with a set by Giant Con.

The money was raised through a cost of $5 per head to get into the party.

Jason thanked her mother, Gabi Jason, who sacrificed her deck for the show, as well as friends Shoshanna Kirkwood, Alison Devitt, and Madison Kaylo, who helped collect donations and manage the party.

"I'm hoping to get before and after pictures too, like pictures of everything our money did, and hopefully I can make this an annual event and people can see where the money went and what it did," said Jason.

The fundraising musician said she hopes to find a different venue and cater to a bit of an older audience next year.