Madonna helps build school in Malawi

LILONGWE, Malawi, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Madonna attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a girls school she is helping to build in Malawi, the country where two of her children were born.

The BBC said the singer took part in the event, cutting a ribbon and planting a tree, while her four kids watched.

Construction on the $15 million Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, which is being financed and built by Madonna's charity, is expected to take two years to complete, the British broadcaster said.

"Growing up in a privileged life, I took education for granted, but coming to Malawi has taught me a lot of things and (I) learned to appreciate what life gives," Madonna said. "I realized how much (young girls) 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."

The school is to be built outside the African country's capital of Lilongwe. It is expected to admit 500 girls, the BBC said.