Madonna plants tree to launch Malawi girls school

Madonna plants tree to launch Malawi girls school

LILONGWE, Malawi (AP) -- Madonna is marking the start of construction at her school for girls in Malawi. The pop superstar cut a ribbon and planted a tree at a groundbreaking ceremony Monday. The 51-year-old celebrity arrived in the impoverished southern African country on Sunday. She was accompanied by her four children -- daughters Lourdes and Mercy, and sons Rocco and David. Madonna adopted Mercy from Malawi earlier this year and adopted David from the country in 2008. Madonna's Raising Malawi, a charity founded in 2006, helps feed, educate and provide medical care for some of Malawi's orphans. _Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._