She's famously young at heart, penning pop songs about teen love and carefree youth.
And Katy Perry managed to retain her playful spirit on a recent trip to poverty-stricken Madagascar.
The 28-year-old was snapped jumping rope with young girls and and fist bumping with a young boy on Friday while on an official trip for UNICEF to the tropical island country, which is one of the poorest in the world.
Katy - on her first visit on behalf of UNICEF - saw a range of the charity's programmes covering areas such as education, nutrition and child protection.
'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,' Katy said in a statement.
In
pictures released of the visit, Katy is seen interacting with local
women and children on various parts of the island, which receives
minimal development aid following a 2009 political crisis.
The singer is shown jumping rope with a group of girls at a primary school that was rebuilt by UNICEF after it was destroyed by a cyclone in Ampihaonana.
Katy looks to be having a ball as she impressively jumps high in the air wearing pink floral jeans and black boots.
'An education is an incredible opportunity here,' said Katy.
'I
visited a very remote community, where children and teachers walk for
45 minutes just to get to school. This is a testament to how
appreciative they are about their education,' she said.
The star wore a UNICEF T-shirt during her visit, and donned an array of patterned headbands to scrape back her jet black hair.
In one snap, the star is seen crouching between two mothers who had just given birth in the Ampasina Maningory Health Centre in Analanjirofo.
In a particularly heartwarming picture, Katy is shown fist bumping a little boy at a pre-school in Sahavola as she sits drawing with some children at a table.
She is seen talking with two adorable twin girls dressed in matching floral dresses, who seemed a bit shy of the pop star.
She also took a tour of the center, where she asked the health workers about the benefits of a supplementary food powder.
But a friend of the singer claimed the split is just them taking some time out to work out what they want from each other.
A source told HollywoodLife.com: 'It's more of a break than a break-up. You'll probably see them hanging out sooner than later and hooking up again. They remain very friendly.'
Taking time out: Katy recently broke up with singer John Mayer,
pictured in February, as the two 'work out what they want from each
other,' says a source
And Katy Perry managed to retain her playful spirit on a recent trip to poverty-stricken Madagascar.
The 28-year-old was snapped jumping rope with young girls and and fist bumping with a young boy on Friday while on an official trip for UNICEF to the tropical island country, which is one of the poorest in the world.
Young at heart: Katy Perry jumped rope with schoolchildren on Friday during her UNICEF visit to poverty-stricken Madagascar
The
pop princess visited the troubled nation to bring attention to the dire
health situation in the country, where three out of four children live
in extreme poverty and rape and abuse are a regular part of life.Katy - on her first visit on behalf of UNICEF - saw a range of the charity's programmes covering areas such as education, nutrition and child protection.
'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,' Katy said in a statement.
Check
this out: The 28-year-old fist bumped a little boy during a visit to a
pre-school in Sahavola on Friday, where she also drew pictures with the
children
Hands on: Katy demonstrates to children at the preschool how to wash their hands
The singer is shown jumping rope with a group of girls at a primary school that was rebuilt by UNICEF after it was destroyed by a cyclone in Ampihaonana.
Katy looks to be having a ball as she impressively jumps high in the air wearing pink floral jeans and black boots.
'An education is an incredible opportunity here,' said Katy.
Good cause: The star, posing with women at a primary school on Friday, wore a UNICEF T-shirt during her visit
Having fun: Katy uses a water pump during her visit to the school as a group of children watch
The star wore a UNICEF T-shirt during her visit, and donned an array of patterned headbands to scrape back her jet black hair.
In one snap, the star is seen crouching between two mothers who had just given birth in the Ampasina Maningory Health Centre in Analanjirofo.
In a particularly heartwarming picture, Katy is shown fist bumping a little boy at a pre-school in Sahavola as she sits drawing with some children at a table.
Maternal
ward: Katy was seen crouching between two mothers who had just given
birth on Friday in the Ampasina Maningory Health Centre in Analanjirofo
Katy
also visited a nutritional center in the village of Androrangavola,
where she chatted with mothers and their young children and learnt about
the chronic malnutrition problem in the country.She is seen talking with two adorable twin girls dressed in matching floral dresses, who seemed a bit shy of the pop star.
She also took a tour of the center, where she asked the health workers about the benefits of a supplementary food powder.
What cuties: Katy bent down to chat with two adorable twin girls on Saturday outside a nutrition centre in Androranga
Katy
is throwing herself into work and charity pursuits after calling it
quits with musician John Mayer last month when she realised the couple
had no long-term future together.
Educational: The star asked health workers at the nutrition centre about the benefits of a supplementary food powder
But a friend of the singer claimed the split is just them taking some time out to work out what they want from each other.
A source told HollywoodLife.com: 'It's more of a break than a break-up. You'll probably see them hanging out sooner than later and hooking up again. They remain very friendly.'