MALAWI AWAITS MADONNA

Lilongwe - 23/10/2009

American pop star Madonna, due in Malawi this week-end for a week-long charity tour, has been dubbed a "true Miss Malawi" by a senior Malawi government official, PANA reported from here on Friday.

"Madonna is doing a lot for the vulnerable Malawian children, especially girl-children, and as government, we are very grateful for her benevolence," said Women and Child Development Minister Patricia Kaliati.

The Queen of Pop has adopted two children from the southern African country - four-year-old David Banda in 2006 and Mercy Chifundo James, also four, earlier this year.

Madonna, through Raising Malawi, a charity the singer set up for her Malawi cause, is also funding six orphanages, feeding, clothing and educating over 25,000 orphans and other vulnerable children.

She has also built her own orphanage outside the capital, Lilongwe, where children are taught tenets of her mystique kabalah faith.

Madonna is scheduled to arrive in Malawi this weekend ahead of Monday's ground-breaking ceremony for her Raising Malawi Girls Academy, a purpose-built elite girls academy, situated just outside the capital, Lilongwe.

Modelled along the lines of US talk-show, Oprah Winfrey's Girl Leadership Academy in South Africa, Madonna's Raising Malawi Academy for Girls will establish "a leadership institution that will prepare future women leaders committed to the vision of a better Malawi through academic excellence and leadership training," according to publicity material for the multi-million dollar project.

"Raising Malawi Academy for Girls will offer the best education under-privileged Malawian girls could otherwise not afford," according to Maki Park, an American education volunteer education consultant, hired to recruit staff for the academy.

Madonna has also hired Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, sister to Malawi's Vice-President Joyce Banda, as director of the academy.

Mtila-Oponyo said Madonna had a special passion for Malawian children, especially disadvantaged girls.

"These are the girls Madonna is trying to reach for they are behind in education," she said, adding "Madonna believes that given opportunities, these girls will become scientists, lawyers and doctors. She believes in them."

Madonna had never heard of a country called Malawi until 2006, when a Malawian friend of hers, Victoria Keelan, introduced the impoverished, HIV/AIDS-ravaged southern African country to her.

During her week-long visit, Madonna will hold private discussions with President Bingu wa Mutharika and also visit some of the orphanages she is funding.

Madonna will bring along her two adopted children - David and Mercy Chifundo.

It was not clear whether her other children, Lourdes, 12 and Rocco, seven, will make the trip, the singer's fourth to the southern African country since 2006.

Source: http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/malawi-awaits-madonna-2009102436911.html