We’ve heard her hint at it in the past and the subject came up again just a few weeks ago, but now word comes that singing sensation Madonna may be holding a new addition to her family by the end of the week. Several news organizations are reporting that the Material Girl’s missionary trip to Malawi was designed not only to help AIDS orphans, but also to adopt a child from the impoverished southern African country.
Andrina Mchiela, secretary to the minister for gender and child welfare, said the pop star planned to adopt a child and launch six projects to help underprivileged children during her stay. There has been no official word about the adoption plans from Madonna’s camp, though it has been confirmed that the singer and an entourage of some 10 people landed in the capital Lilongwe today. Local press agencies said Madonna was expected to spend Wednesday resting before traveling to Mphandula, a village about 30 miles from the capital, where plans to set up an education and feeding center for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.
When she gets there she won’t be met with cheers from adoring fans. Televisions are nonexistent and radios are rare, meaning that most of the villagers have never even heard Madonna sing. Instead what will be waiting for the pop icon will be hundreds of orphaned children who are cared for either by their siblings or grandparents, many of whom live in mud and thatched huts and must scrounge for food.
In a previous blog I addressed Madonna plans for Malawi including her desire to raise at least $3 million for programs to support AIDS orphans. According to the United Nations, Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world; a place HIV/AIDS infects just over 14 percent of the 12 million population and has left an estimated 1 million children orphaned.
If pledging her support to aid the people of this region, Madonna joins a growing list of entertainer-activists who have focused on Africa. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whose child was born in Namibia earlier this year, recently announced they would donate $1 million each to two humanitarian organizations active on the continent. While actor George Clooney has recently made headlines for his campaign to aid victims of the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.
If Madonna indeed adopts a child from Malawi, the baby will join the singer’s husband, director Guy Ritchie, her son, Rocco and daughter, Lourdes.