Canadian musician Nelly Furtado has donated Sh100 million towards the construction of a girls’ secondary school in the Maasai Mara, among other girl-child empowerment projects.

The Grammy award winner who was recently appointed as a Free The Children ambassador backed her donation with the words: “I believe in children, I believe in youth, and I believe in empowering girls.”

She made the announcement at a We Day Toronto concert, attended by thousands of fans and supporters and one of the girls who will benefit from the project.

Nelly visited the Kisaruni Girls Secondary School earlier this year, and got a chance to interact with the girls there who warmed her heart.

“I’m giving this gift because I was inspired by my visit to Kenya,” she said. “I left a part of my heart in Kenya and I can’t wait to go back.”

According to Free The Children, her donation is in two parts: an initial Sh50 million and another Sh50 million to set up a challenge grant with which she will match every dollar youth donate to Free The Children, up to $500,000.

“At the end of the day this is about girls’ empowerment and about sustainability,” she says. “This amazing opportunity… will ensure they grow up to be strong community leaders.”

The donation will go specifically towards providing up to 200 girls with free room and board and a full secondary education scholarship, every year, among other things.

Free The Children’s We Day is a movement of young people, intended to institute change through education, engagement and empowerment.