The American singer, songwriter and actress Madonna is often regarded as one of the most influential figures in popular culture.
However, she is also known for her philanthropic achievements having set up two charities. Firstly, the Ray of Light foundation which supports organisations around the world promoting equal rights, peace and education for all. And secondly, Raising Malawi which is dedicated to helping eliminate poverty endured by Malawi’s one million orphans. As of 2020 Raising Malawi have built 14 primary schools across the country and educated community members about the importance of girls’ education which has fulfilled Madonna’s commitment to making school accessible to Malawian youth. “There’s a real education crisis in Malawi,” Madonna said in a statement. “Sixty-seven percent of girls don’t go to secondary school, and this is simply unacceptable. Our team is going to work hard to address this in every way we can.”
Madonna is also a key speaker and advocate for female empowerment particularly within the arts and music industry. For her dedication to philanthropy and international development SIA-Africa awards Madonna as the Person of the Month for April 2021.
