by MIKE HUTCHINGS
Madonna’s attempt at opening a girls’ school in Malawi was well-intentioned, but misguided. She made the common mistake of attempting to start a school from scratch rather than partnering with a credible organization that already exists.
A group of Calgarians headed by veteran Calgary oilman Jim Gray knew better. Their Awali Group teamed up with the respected and experienced Aga Khan organization to assist in setting up a teacher-training institute in East Africa.
Madonna’s planned Raising Malawi Academy for Girls has been scrapped amid allegations of financial mismanagement by its now-ousted board of directors. A damning audit showed lavish spending on offices, cars and golf membership, but no school, and not even a valid land title. A caretaker board, including Madonna herself, has taken over.
It is a sad, but all-too-common occurrence that threatens to scare off donors from reputable efforts such as Calgary’s Awali organization. Africa is in an education crisis. About 40 million youngsters, about half the continent’s primaryage children, are not in school. Two-thirds of these are girls. The United Nations estimates Africa needs three million teachers. Many are poorly trained.
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