Joined by board members of her Raising Malawi charity, Madonna was spotted at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Raising Malawi Academy For Girls in Malawi today (October 26). Madonna has spent $15 million funding this project.

The 51-year-old pop superstar marked the start of construction of her school for girls by planting a tree at the planned site of the $15 million school.

Dressed in a dark summer dress and a colourful shawl in the town of Chinkhota, Madonna and eldest daughter Lourdes planted a Moringa tree, a hardy tree with edible leaves.

“If this school is a success — with God-willing it will be — we will replicate it not only in Malawi but in other parts of the world as well,” she said.

The new school will be called the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls and will open by 2011 and educate 500 students, said its future principal, Anjimile Mtila-Opponyo. It will be similar to the school built by talk show host Oprah Winfrey in South Africa.

Madge arrived in the impoverished southern African country on Sunday accompanied by her four children — daughters Lourdes and Mercy, and sons Rocco and David.

Meanwhile, Madonna will meet with President Bingu tomorrow and visit some of the orphanages her charity supports.