Work begins on Madonna’s orphanage

Construction has begun on a children’s home for Aids orphans in Malawi with the help of Madonna, who is visiting the southern African nation.

The orphanage in the impoverished village of Mphandula, 30 miles outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to Aids, said construction company clerk Denis Nyanja.

“She hasn’t visited this place yet but we know she is in town and would visit us soon before she leaves,” Nyanja said. “Funds for this place have been donated by Madonna.”

Workers were preparing the ground for the Namitete Orphan Care Centre, which will include an entertainment hall, classrooms, summer huts, a playing field and teachers’ houses.

The centre will be run under the auspices of Raising Malawi, a charity Madonna has set up.

Madonna and Ritchie have not spoken to reporters since their arrival. But Madonna’s publicists and Malawi government officials said the singer was in the country to set up the orphanage and fund six other such projects.

From AP via Yahoo! News