MrBeast spends $10 million building village in Ghana, says he'll do it 'even if no one watches'

YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, spent $10 million building a village in Ghana to help families live more safely and reduce the pressures that can push children into illegal labor.

Here's what to know

According to Fortune, the development is called Abna Dakwa and includes houses, space for schooling, toilet facilities, a marketplace, a shared farm, and a well, plus drainage work near the existing community to help prevent flooding.

Donaldson described the build as part of the wider work of his Beast Philanthropy nonprofit. He said it took eight months to finish and was designed to address conditions tied to illegal work by improving housing, sanitation, education, and shared community resources.

Before the video was released, he suggested it might not attract as much attention as the challenge-style content that first made him famous.

"It prob won't perform that well, but it's something I care a lot about and I hope my passion for it shines through," he wrote on X.

Fortune reported that MrBeast's core viewers are largely 11 to 24, while the average philanthropist in the United States is 64, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. The project exposed millions of younger viewers to a model of giving centered on community support.

In the comments of the YouTube video, MrBeast wrote, "It breaks my heart that over 1.5 million children are forced into child labor instead of getting an education. I hope this video inspires everyone to care about how their food is sourced, and show the world that we can get kids off farms and into classrooms where they belong."

More background

The team also committed to providing free school meals for students at the new school for five years. If children can safely stay in school and receive meals there, they may be less likely to leave education early for illegal work.

Beast Philanthropy also hopes to bring clean water to millions, supply more than 48 million meals to people dealing with food insecurity, and help plant over 25 million trees, according to Fortune.

Katherine Lorenz, who leads the Next Gen group at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates's Giving Pledge, told Fortune, "I see more younger generation folks pushing on their parents to give more. [They're saying], 'You made enough money, mom and dad. It's time to give it away and to give it away faster.'"

What's being done?

Homes and toilets can improve health. Drainage can reduce flood risk. A market and farm can support local economic activity. School meals can help children stay in class.

Donaldson said this isn't a one-off effort. After one user asked why he was not doing more in Greenville, North Carolina, where he grew up and where his operations are based, he replied on X, "If I listed all the philanthropic things we do locally I literally wouldn't be able to fit it in this tweet."

Supporting school meal programs, local resilience projects, and organizations serving children can also have meaningful effects at a smaller scale. People looking to take local action can start by finding community groups already doing that work nearby.

After a follower observed that MrBeast's humanitarian uploads usually get fewer views than his other videos, Donaldson replied, "It's funny when people say I only help people for views because it's literally the opposite lol. Doesn't matter though, helping people brings me purpose, and even if no one watches, I'll keep making them."

Where can I learn more?

Here is more on philanthropy, community support, and environmental work behind projects like this one. 

• MrBeast has also backed incredible sustainability efforts that extend beyond viral stunts.

• In the Dominican Republic, Francisco Núñez is restoring critical river basins during worsening droughts.

• A former teacher is giving low-income residents solar panels to cut energy bills.

• In California, ExtraFood is tackling food waste while getting meals to families.

• The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium won a massive grant to protect 100 communities.

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