The American pop star Madonna has attended the inauguration of her first girls' school in Malawi.


In a small village outside the capital of Malawi local people welcome back Madonna.

The U.S. pop star is back, this time, to inaugurate her latest project, the construction of a girls' school.

Raising Malawi Academy for Girls is expected to cost 15 million dollars and will be paid for by Madonna.

She says she wants to help underprivileged young girls.

In 2005, she adopted 13 month old David Banda and this June she adopted four year old Mercy James. Both are Malawians.

Madonna, saying:

"And if this school is successful and God willing, it will be, we can use it as a model and replicate it not only in other places in Malawi but all around the world."

Four years ago Madonna adopted 13 month old David Banda who'd been left in an orphanage.

This June she won a legal battle allowing her to adopt another Malawian - four year old Mercy James.

The ravages of AIDS has orphaned more than a million children in Malawi.

Madonna has made them her cause.

Madonna, saying:

"Coming to Malawi almost four years ago has opened my eyes to many things. The most important is that we as human beings have a responsibility to help other human beings whether they live down the street or on the other side of the world."

The new school will eventually educate 500 girls from 28 southern Africa districts.

It's should be ready for its first pupils within two years.

Edith Champagne, Reuters