The singer Madonna has donated a 1921 Cubist masterpiece by the French painter Fernand Leger to a charity in support of education for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The painting “Trois femmes a la table rouge,” which carries an estimate of $5-7 million, will go on sale at Sotheby's in New York on 7 May. The money raised will go to the Ray of Light Foundation.

Madonna stated;  "I have chosen to auction this painting called, Three Women by Fernand Léger and donate all the proceeds to support girls' educational projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries where female education is rare or nonexistent.

She added, "I cannot accept a world where women or girls are wounded, shot or killed for either going to school or teaching in girls' schools. We don't have time to be complacent."

The Ray of Light foundation was established in 2008 by author Bruce Cerew. It was created on the belief that all children regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background or circumstances should have access to basic human necessities. Cerew was once a war child; homeless, hopeless and lost. Terribly abused, he experienced merciless poverty. From those perspectives; through relevant, sustainable and practical training programs, he purposefully strives to empower abandoned youths and those with non-existent prospects of becoming self- sufficient and self-reliant.

Madonna  has been a serious collector of Modern and Contemporary art since the 1980's. The former lover of the painter, Jean-Michel Basquiat has earned kudos in the art world for her shrewd  acquisitions, over the last 35 years. The masterpiece will be exhibited at Sotheby's headquarters in London between 12-16 April before traveling  to New York to be auctioned.