A charitable group backed by pop star Madonna has scrapped its plan to build a school for impoverished girls in Malawi due to mismanagement, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
The organization, Raising Malawi, has ousted its board of directors and replaced its members with a new set of officials that includes Madonna and her manager, the Times reported.
'A thoughtful decision has been made to discontinue plans for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, as it was originally conceived,' Michael Berg, co-founder of Raising Malawi, said Thursday in an e-mail to the center's members who had contributed to the project, according to the Times.
Berg, a co-director of the spiritual and educational organization Kabbalah Center International in Los Angeles, could not be reached for comment on Thursday night.
The Times said the effort to build the Malawi school had collapsed after spending $3.8 million on the project and its executive director left in October amid criticism of his management style and cost overruns.
Madonna lent $11 million of her money to the organization. She has been a frequent visitor to Malawi and has adopted two children from the country.
On Thursday, the singer issued a statement to the Times saying she was still intent on working with Raising Malawi.
'There's a real education crisis in Malawi,' she said in the statement given to the Times. 'Sixty-seven percent of girls don't go to secondary school, and this is simply unacceptable.'
A spokeswoman for Madonna could not be reached on Thursday night.
The organization, Raising Malawi, has ousted its board of directors and replaced its members with a new set of officials that includes Madonna and her manager, the Times reported.
'A thoughtful decision has been made to discontinue plans for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, as it was originally conceived,' Michael Berg, co-founder of Raising Malawi, said Thursday in an e-mail to the center's members who had contributed to the project, according to the Times.
Berg, a co-director of the spiritual and educational organization Kabbalah Center International in Los Angeles, could not be reached for comment on Thursday night.
The Times said the effort to build the Malawi school had collapsed after spending $3.8 million on the project and its executive director left in October amid criticism of his management style and cost overruns.
Madonna lent $11 million of her money to the organization. She has been a frequent visitor to Malawi and has adopted two children from the country.
On Thursday, the singer issued a statement to the Times saying she was still intent on working with Raising Malawi.
'There's a real education crisis in Malawi,' she said in the statement given to the Times. 'Sixty-seven percent of girls don't go to secondary school, and this is simply unacceptable.'
A spokeswoman for Madonna could not be reached on Thursday night.
From Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Cool! Author the best! Thank you!
Posted by: dissertation service | Monday, 28 March 2011 at 03:45 PM
I thought this was old news? We've been reading for months that the plan to build one big school has been scrapped for plans to help build hundreds of smaller schools instead. Why is this news now?
Posted by: Tyson | Sunday, 27 March 2011 at 11:47 PM
If a project failed, do not forget all the positive actions Madonna has done in Malawi and all the actions she will do.
Madonna has a big heart.
Posted by: Alex | Sunday, 27 March 2011 at 09:29 AM
You know what I think this is a good move!! Better to do this right than do it half arsed ,I've seen a lot of projects in Malawi were big donors come in put no work in and leave!! And it doesn't benefit anyone just holds back progress. I hope this will not over shadow the rest of the work M does in Malawi!!
Posted by: Mondo | Saturday, 26 March 2011 at 04:56 PM
Shame on Madonna who has helped thousands of Malawians orphans to survive.
Glory to Lady Gaga who has herself donated nothing for Japan disaster but sell a miserable bracelets with high useless post costs.
World press thanks to LG and condemn Madonna as usual.
Posted by: Alex | Saturday, 26 March 2011 at 04:25 PM
I knew a whole school was going to be a massive undertaking. All I could say was,"WOW!!" with just my mini macro idea's for a scholarship program. She has a special place in my heart for sure, even if I didn't acknowledge her standing right next to me (from fear? ;).
Posted by: eAdd1013 | Saturday, 26 March 2011 at 03:13 AM
This is utterly scandalous. Almost $4m just wasted? I'm sure many people who have donated to this charity, including myself, will have second thoughts about ever doing so again. Of course, it isn't Madonna's fault, she has ploughed a fortune into this too, but it has all been dreadfully mismanaged.
Posted by: David | Friday, 25 March 2011 at 06:44 PM