Pop star Katy Perry has thrown herself into charity work following her recent split from John Mayer. The Firework singer, 28, visited Madagascar in support of Unicef this week, spending time with some of the world's poorest children.Katy looked as glamourous as ever, wearing a casual Unicef t-shirt and patterned leggings, accessorising with hoop earrings and a headband sweeping her hair back from her face.
The pop princess, who followed in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Madonna, took the trip to help draw attention to the importance of providing education and help to children on the African island. There, Katy witnessed a range of programmes in education, nutrition, health, child protection, sanitation and hygiene. She embraced the opportunity to enjoy the affections of the young children, participating in several local activities by hand-washing clothes and playing with children in a playground at a school in Sahavola which had been rebuilt after being struck by a cyclone. The brunette beauty showed off her playful spirit by jumping a skipping rope with young girls and bumping fists with a little boy.In her first trip on behalf of the United Nations Children's Fund, Katy also pumped water at a well, visited a nutrition centre to learn about the high rates of malnutrition in the country, and spoke to young mothers who are receiving support and counselling.
Katy admitted that the experience was eye-opening: "In less than one week here in Madagascar, I went from crowded city slums to the most remote villages and my eyes were opened wide by the incredible need for a healthy life – nutrition, sanitation, and protection against rape and abuse – which Unicef is stepping in to help provide. "I am grateful to Unicef for giving me the opportunity to see first-hand how their programmes make a real difference in children's lives. Support for Unicef is saving children, I am a witness to it."
Katy has been keeping busy since breaking up with ex-boyfriend John Mayer after seven months, recording her third studio album while John is preparing for his tour which begins in New York next month and wraps up in Brasil later this year.The pair gave their love a second chance after briefly splitting in August, less than a year after Katy and Russell Brand divorced. A close source to the couple told US Weekly that their split "is sad," but suggested they could reconcile one more time. "It's not over until it's over. You have to see how things play out", the source said. Another friend added: "She's leaving the window open. They have both been so focused on work. "No doubt Katy's trip to tropical island Madagascar will have provided the singer with the time out she needed. Perhaps it was the experience, and meeting young mothers, which spurred her on to retweet on Sunday: "Women are literally people".