Madonna arrived in Malawi with her family last week-end and attended a very special event the next day.

A ceremony was held in the town of Chinkhota on Monday to mark the start of construction of her foundation’s school for girls, which will be called the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls. The school will open its doors in 2011 and will educate 500 students.

"In all my travels, investigations and conversations the most recurring thing is how amazing Malawian women are, both young and old, how industrious they are and how much they deserve to be educated," Madonna said.

During the ceremony, Madonna planted a tree at the planned site of the school, marking the begining of a project very close to her heart: "If this school is a success - with God-willing it will be - we will replicate it not only in Malawi but in other parts of the world as well".

Madonna met Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika on Tuesday and is to visit orphanages supported by the Raising Malawi foundation during her stay in the country.

For more info about Raising Malawi or to start getting involved, please visit www.raisingmalawi.org.