Madonna's Plan to Build Malawi School Falls Apart

By Christine Fenno Posted Mar 26th 2011 10:12AM

A charity launched by Madonna is floundering after nearly $4 million was spent, with little to show for it, on plans to build a school in the impoverished African nation of Malawi.

Madonna has made regular visits to the country for her Raising Malawi foundation, to which she gave $11 million; she also adopted her youngest children David and Mercy in Malawi.

But now, the pop star's dream of building a $15 million school to educate approximately 400 girls has officially collapsed, according to the New York Times.

"A thoughtful decision has been made to discontinue plans for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, as it was originally conceived," Michael Berg said Thursday in an email to donors who supported the project. Berg is co-director of Los Angeles' Kabbalah Centre, and co-founder of Raising Malawi.

The foundation's board of directors has been replaced by Madonna and her manager, who join a newly formed "caretaker board."

Concerns of financial mismanagement arose in recent months. Cars, golf memberships, and a chauffeur for the school's director were described by auditors as "outlandish" wastes of money.

In a statement Thursday, Madonna said: "There's a real education crisis in Malawi....67 percent of girls don't go to secondary school, and this is simply unacceptable. Our team is going to work hard to address this in every way we can." In acknowledgment of her charity's failings, she said, "I'm frustrated that our education work has not moved forward in a faster way."

Government authorities in Malawi already displaced hundreds of locals from Chinkhota village, near the capitol city of Lilongwe, to accommodate construction of the school. Madonna's camp has yet to explain why she failed to act earlier on the crisis within her organization, which has raised $18 million so far. The Times was told Madonna was directing a movie about British royals, and therefore unavailable for an interview about the latest Raising Malawi news.

Meanwhile, the charity insists that Raising Malawi will not disband, but will redirect how it uses funds to help the poor in Malawi.

The Global Philanthropy Group says it advised Madonna months ago that millions were being ineffectively spent by her charity, and suggested she finance existing education programs instead of trying to launch a new school.

Trevor Neilson of the Global Philanthropy Group studied Raising Malawi's mistakes and told the Times, "Despite $3.8 million having been spent....the project has not broken ground, there was no title to the land and there was, over all, a startling lack of accountability on the part of the management team in Malawi and the management team in the United States." He added, "We have yet to determine exactly what happened to all of that $3.8 million. We have not accounted for all the funds that were used."

Tags: madonna, malawi

Comments

(50)

Saturday 26 March

By charleyvldm9

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

There is also an "educational crisis"in USA.45 million cant read above Grade5.34 million on food Stamps.^60 million half mad,11%unemployed and you Ophra and others choose to spend millions overseas.How ironic?

By John

These bleeding heart left wingers make me sick. Spend your money on at home first.

By Bob

They should visit Detroit then maybe they would try to start a school for Gangstas there.

By Matthew

Spending money on wars to enrich oil barrons and outsourcing jobs while driving the wage scale down has done quit enough for helping to make Detroit, and the rest of the American Ghetto, a school for gangsters. Thanks for the thought though.

By Ann

I was thinking the exact same thing. But Charley, I wonder if the publicity would be as good if they simply donated that money to local education?

By stu

this fell apart just like her movie career.

Wednesday 30 March

By Tigger

Amazing ,just fornicating amazing........

Sunday 27 March

By SAM

Matthew, it isn't everyone else's responsibility to help Detroit. Oil barrons have nothing to do with it. That is just an excuse by the one's who have been raping(running) Detroit to get the gullible ones off of their backs and the gullible ones have believed it hook, line and sinker. They should have been able to have helped themselves. But by their own corruption and ineffective government, they have bled themselves to death.

By chris

i agree how about building a school here to help OUR children ! what is wrong with these celebrities who take their money to other countries !!??

Monday 28 March

By Phil

Vote down Vote up Report this

I agree, stars if you want to help someone...help the impoverished AMERICANS!! Madonna, how about scholarships for those smart AMERICAN kids that are homeless? Opraha, how about opening (again, in AMERICA) a school for kids that can't make it in college but need to understand a trade?

By Stephanie

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

well this is disheartening! i had asked my fam and friends to forgo giving me bday gifts last year and asked that they all donate to Raising Malawi instead...very disappointed in Madonna for letting this go this far.

By Jasper

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

YOu would be one of those "suckers born every minute". Your gender is not shocking. Try donating close to home.

@Jasper- Actually, Jasper, I do donate here in the USA and abroad. I guess I'm one of those people in my "gender" who cares about kids all over...

By siientsieep

What's gender got to do with anything? Implying women are gullible? I know plenty of gullible men too.

By KukralA

Don't listen Stephanie. No matter where the donated money is going, it is an admirable and heartfelt thing to do. Jasper probably doesnt even donate at home, let alone abroad.

WHA< WHA< WHA Why doesn't she visit her home area? Start a school in Detroit or Flint. Maybe even Saganaw. Keep her millions in the USA not some pre Muslem run country.

By doneldathomas

Why cant she help the kids in the USA ..So many kids eat one meal a day, so many kids are homeless...help build a school here..why do all this people go to other places in the world to help.. The kids here in the USA need help too don't they????

By Bella T

All good intentions....the way to bring world peace and stop the violence against women is to empower women. The first step is to educate them and build their self esteme. Sorry this didn't work out.

By Zeker55

... and teach them how to spell!

By the_fool

Many of these celebs seem to be looking for the niche spot light. They don't get that in their own country. She may have gone in there with good intentions and thought by throwing large money amounts she could make a difference. Many times these people have years and years of living and doing things a certain way. If she did not take the time to learn that - then she is getting her lesson now. It would take many years and help from people in that country to possibly make a difference and see some results.

Page 1 of 3