This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/8325492.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Madonna goes to school in Malawi Madonna opens new Malawi school
(about 9 hours later)
Pop star Madonna has arrived in Malawi to visit the girls school she is building in the African country. Pop star Madonna has marked the start of construction at the girls school she is building in Malawi.
The 51-year-old was accompanied by her four children - two of whom, Mercy, 3, and David, 4, were born in Malawi. The 51-year-old cut a ribbon and planted a tree at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.
She will take part in a ground breaking ceremony on the future site of the school on Monday afternoon. The star's four children including David, 4, and Mercy, 3 - whom Madonna adopted from the country - were also present at the event.
"It's an honour for me to be able to help as many of these girls as I can achieve their dreams," the pop star said in a statement on her website. It is thought construction of the $15m (£9.2m) academy will take two years.
"Growing up in a privileged life, I took education for granted, but coming to Malawi has taught me a lot of things and learnt to appreciate what life gives," Madonna said.
The singer added she wanted to give opportunities to underprivileged young girls.
"I realised how much they deserve to be educated and so for me the best thing I could do was to build a school, a unique school that will create future female leaders, scientists, lawyers and doctors.
"If this school is successful it will be used as a model to replicate it in other countries," she said.
BeliefBelief
Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, aims to provide accommodation, food, education and other support to orphans in the country.Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, aims to provide accommodation, food, education and other support to orphans in the country.
The school, which will be named Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, is on the outskirts of the country's capital, Lilongwe. The Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, is on the outskirts of the country's capital, Lilongwe and will admit 500 girls from the small southern African country's 28 districts.
It will prepare girls from poor backgrounds for careers in medicine, education or law. Madonna adopted four-year-old David in 2006
"Research proves that young girls throughout the developing world are often left without opportunities to receive a comprehensive education and the benefits that education can provide," Madonna said in her statement. "Research proves that young girls throughout the developing world are often left without opportunities to receive a comprehensive education and the benefits that education can provide," Madonna said in a statement on her website.
"Our goal is to teach them to challenge themselves, serve their local communities and develop their country.""Our goal is to teach them to challenge themselves, serve their local communities and develop their country."
"Madonna believes that given opportunities, these girls will become scientists, lawyers and doctors," added Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, a local academic who has been hired to head the academy. Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, a local academic who has been hired to head the academy, said:"Madonna believes that given opportunities, these girls will become scientists, lawyers and doctors."
"She believes in them. Having someone believe in you is important to a girl," she said. "She believes in them. Having someone believe in you is important to a girl."
During her trip, Madonna is also expected to meet with President Bingu wa Mutharika and visit some of the orphanages her charity supports.During her trip, Madonna is also expected to meet with President Bingu wa Mutharika and visit some of the orphanages her charity supports.