Madonna's new African academy

Lilongwe, Malawi (AP) — Madonna laid the first brick of her new girls’ academy near Malawi’s capital last Tuesday, in which she encouraged Malawian girls to “dare to dream,” according to the inscription on the brick.

The pop star said it has long been her dream to build a girls’ school. She said she hopes the girls attending the academy will go on to become doctors, lawyers and future leaders of their country.

The $15-M Raising Malawi Academy for Girls is scheduled to open in 2011, and will assist 500 orphaned children.

At the same event, Madonna also launched a telecommunications and fundraising initiative that aims to provide education to children around the world by offering secondary school scholarships and by supporting schools in developing countries in accessing the Internet.

“Kids will be able to connect with kids from the other parts of the world,” the singer said. “This will promote peace throughout the world.”  

Telecommunications giant Ericsson will donate computers to various schools in 11 African countries through the United Nations Millennium Village initiative.