Rihanna has been named Harvard University’s Humanitarian of the Year.
The 29year-old singer has been honoured with the prestigious accolade because of her charity work involving the Clara and Lionel Foundation Scholarship scheme, which was set up to encourage young children to pursue their education in the Caribbean, as well as her collaboration with Global Partnership for Education and the Global Citizen Project.
The vocalist has also helped to build a "state of the art centre" to help treat cancer patients in her home town of Barbados.
Speaking about Rihanna’s philanthropic work, the Harvard Foundation’s director, S. Allen Counter, said: "Rihanna has charitably built a state-of-the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados."
And The ‘Work’ hitmaker is set to pick up her Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian award in a ceremony, which will take place at the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday (28.02.17).
Rihanna’s award has previously been received by 86-year-old actor James Earl Jones, and 19-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.
Meanwhile, Rihanna – who was named the creative director of the sportswear giant PUMA in 2014 – recently visited a school in Malawi, East Africa, and on her trip she toured the classrooms and met the "bravest, most humble kids".
Alongside a picture of the school, which she shared on her Instagram account, she wrote: "Met the bravest, most humble kids and young women this week! I can’t wait to share more! #CLF #GC #GPE (sic)."
The star has revealed her goal for the launch of the scholarship programme last year was to give back.
Speaking previously, she said: "Giving back is important to me and it should be important to everyone.
"If you have the ability to help and lend a hand, no matter how big or small, you should definitely make that your responsibility."
Rihanna is named Harvard University’s Humanitarian of the Year
