Wide AND Deep

 

 

Once instilled with pride in their homeland, young women will understand the importance of remaining in Malawi and investing in their own communities.~ Madonna

Madonna is hoping her new Malawi girls school will put an end to the “brain drain happening in Africa” – by educating pupils so they can help rebuild the nation. I think she should be commended for taking a stand against the extreme poverty that currently  overwhelms the people of Malawi and for understanding the power of investing in women and girls. I have stated in this space many times that the Millennium Development Goals  will not be achieved until we invest in women.

The pop superstar, who has adopted two children from the country , is currently in Malawi to launch the construction of the  her new girl’s academy. Did I mention this school cost? Its a staggering  £10 million ! Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, scheduled to open its doors to  only 450 students next year. 450. 400+50= 450. I just want  to scream at her– Madonna, you can go wide and deep.  WIDE AND DEEP. Please take that 10 million pounds  and build  2000 additional schools across the country. Help as many folks as you can, while you can.

Educating girls is vitally important to the future success of this country.  I would hope that she would leverage the  money — double down and go hog wild for all the girls of Malawi. Education should not be a lottery and the lucky 450 out of millions  get a chance. I would challenge Madonna to increase  the scale and scope to serve more girls  in a  real cost efficient manner.

Will the 450 girls chosen get a quality education? Absolutely. Will they graduate and go on to top Universities all over the world? You betcha. According to Maddona her students will receive an internationally competitive education while incorporating local values. They will have on site  world class medical care and protection and support. Sigh…

I do not begrudge the 450– I just want it to be more. I need it to be more. I need her to take that large  donation and serve a large number of girls.  And Madonna has the resources and influence to make that happen.

Education may just be the tool that saves Malawi. Education is a also tool that should be shared by many. Her investment in Malawi should go  both wide and deep.

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