Madonna Building a Girls Academy in Malawi

October 24, 2009 by tiffanyb
Filed under: Celebrity Baby News

Madonna is giving back to Malawi, from where she has adopted two children from, in the form of building a school for girls.

Madonna is set to arrive in Malawi on Sunday to launch the groundbreaking ceremony for the buidling of the girls academy. The academy will be named Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.

An official stated, “The academy seeks to provide a model of relevant and effective education in Malawi while advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

The school will prepare Malawian girls for careers in medicine, education or law. It is being modeled after a similar academy that Oprah built in Africa.

Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, a local academic, has been hired by the pop star to head the academy. Oponyo 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.”

Madonna adopted her son David in 2006 from Malawi and returned there earlier this year to adopt a 3-year-old girl named Mercy. Madonna has received much criticism about her adoptions since she originally was ruled as not having met the residency requirements. This is Madonna’s way of giving back to the country.