Madonna promises light for Malawian village

‘I know you work in darkness, I will bring you electricity,’ says singer

Slideshow

Madonna: Re-invented
From singer to actress to mom, the many reincarnations of Madonna.

more photos

Celebrity video

A look inside the Jackson ‘Opus’ book
Nov. 25: TODAY’s Natalie Morales talks to Jeff Wald, the publisher of “The Official Michael Jackson Opus,” which includes a collection of rarely seen photos and tributes from his celebrity friends.

Rhea Perlman, Lucy DeVito take the stage

Ashley Greene on ‘New Moon’

Paula Deen hit by a flying ham

Farewell to 'Jon and Kate Plus 8'

Flying ham hits Paula Deen

Slideshow

Best and worst celebrity fashions of 2009
From glamorous gowns to stylish suits to complete fashion failures, a look at the year so far.

more photos

updated 4:31 p.m. ET Oct. 29, 2009

MPHANDULA, Malawi - Madonna has promised electricity to a village in Malawi, the impoverished southern African country where she runs a charity organization and from which she has adopted two children.

Speaking in Mphandula, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, the singer said Thursday: "I know you work in darkness. I will bring you electricity."

Madonna's Raising Malawi charity already has donated $500,000 for a child care center in the village that feeds and educates 3,000 orphaned children.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Madonna arrived in Malawi on Sunday accompanied by her four children. On Monday she broke ground for her $15-million Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.

About 500,000 children in this nation of 12 million have lost a parent to AIDS.