Madge's mighty heart

Nearly six years after it was created, Madonna's Raising Malawi charity is set to break ground on the construction of schools in the impoverished country, but they will be run by the local community, not the superstar's organisation. According to organisers, work on the first school will start on March 30 and all of the schools should be built by June 2013. Raising Malawi is providing $300,000 (Dh1.1 million) to the non-governmental organisation buildOn to develop the schools. They'll serve about 1,000 boys and girls in the southern African nation. "This remains a very big priority in my life and I am excited that with the help of buildOn we can maintain our ongoing commitment to move forward efficiently," Madonna said. "I have learned a great deal over the last few years and feel so much more confident that we can reach out goals to educate children in Malawi, especially young girls, in a much more efficient and practical way," she said. Madonna has adopted two children from Malawi. BuildOn has already built more than 50 schools in Malawi and 427 schools worldwide.