London, Oct 27 (ANI): Madonna kick started the work on her new 10-million pound girls' academy in Malawi by cutting a ribbon and planting a tree, and said she would build more schools across the world if this project was successful.

"Growing up in a privileged life, I took education for granted...but coming to Malawi has taught me a lot of things and I have learnt to appreciate what life gives," the Daily Express quoted Madonna as saying at the ceremony held in the capital city of Lilongwe.

She added: "After seeing all the hard-working Malawian women, who are looking after families and communities, I realised how much they deserve to be educated.

"For me the best thing I could do was to build a school, a unique school that will create future female leaders, -scientists, lawyers, doctors. And, if this school is successful, it will be used as a model to replicate it in other countries."

The Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, funded by Madonna's charity Raising Malawi, is scheduled to start in two years and will help educate 500 students. (ANI)