ELSMERE — The St. Henry Elementary fifth-graders eagerly raised their hands, bounced in their seats and bit their fingernails, hoping to be called upon.

        “What kind of animals do you have over there?” one fifth-grade girl asked the tall classroom visitor.

        They wanted to know about life in the Central African Republic and they learned about it from an unlikely teacher.

Romain Sato, a 6-foot-9 basketball player for Xavier University, signs autographs for St. Henry Elementary students. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Romain Sato, 20, a shooting guard for Xavier University's men's basketball team, told the students about his experiences growing up in Bangui, the capital of the African nation on the west bank of the Ubangi River, near Zaire, Congo and Chad.

        Mr. Sato told the students how the $2,100 raised in a penny drive during Lent to send to missionaries in the Central African Republic would help the country, known until 1960 as French Equatorial Africa.

        Mr. Sato said he had received money from organizations such as those supported by the penny drive while living in Bangui. As a recipient, he said he was very appreciative of the money, and saw educating children about his country as a way to give back.

        The international business freshman speaks six languages. He began playing basketball while he was a student at Dayton Christian.

        Midwest Hoops listed Mr. Sato as the best player in Ohio and among the top 50 in the nation his senior year in high school.

        Philip Gessner, the St. Henry principal, said this is the third year the school has participated in the program. Mr. Gessner said the school sent the money to two religious orders, the Sisters of Divine Providence and the Sisters of Notre Dame, in Africa. The religious orders split the money and use it as needed.

        Through the fund-raising drive, Mr. Gessner said the children learn to think about someone other than themselves.

        "It just ties them into other people's needs,” Mr. Gessner said. It also lets them see needs that Americans often take for granted, he said.

        Mr. Sato told the students that during the dry season in his country people often have to dig wells to get water. He also told them about the stifling temperatures that sometimes reach 120 degrees.

        The students said they enjoy participating in the penny drive each year because it allows them to help people.

        “It is nice to help them because you look at what we've got and then you look at what they've got and it makes you feel like you want to help,” said Diana McCane, a fifth-grader from Burlington.

        After last year's penny drive, the 11-year-old said the students received a letter from a young girl in Africa whose house had burned. Some of the money was given to her family.

        Diana's classmate, Anthony Porco, said he also enjoyed helping people such as the girl whose house burned.

        “I feel good that I helped out someone I don't even know that's across the world,” said Anthony, an 11-year-old from Erlanger.

        Both Anthony and Diana agreed that the money they raised would help the people in Africa live better lives.

        Even people like Mr. Sato.

        “If I can have a good life then I have to think about something else,” he said. “I let them see how people live.”

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