Most children in orphanages have one parent still living, or have an extended family that can care for them in the absence of their parents.A British children's charity has urged the recently-divorced pop star, who has three other children, including an adopted Malawian boy to rethink her planned adoption of a baby girl from the impoverished African nation of Malawi.
The singer Madonna has reportedly arrived in the east African country to take custody of a four-year-old child Malawian girl named Mercy James. Mercy's father is believed to be alive but details of her family are sketchy.
"The best place for a child is in his or her
family in their home community," Nutt said.
Save the Children argued that foreign adoptions should happen only if a child does not have any relatives, and all other options have been considered.
family in their home community," Nutt said.
Save the Children argued that foreign adoptions should happen only if a child does not have any relatives, and all other options have been considered.
ITN reported. The singer has in the past used her fame to raise awareness about problems facing Malawi.
Madonna playing for fame
- Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg, who has not commented on the adoption reports, said the star would not respond to Save the Children, ITN reported.
- The singer has in the past used her fame to raise awareness about problems facing Malawi. She made a documentary, "I Am Because We Are," which highlighted poverty, AIDS and other diseases devastating the country's children.
- She also helps run a nonprofit, Raising Malawi, which implements initiatives to help the needy in the southeastern Africa nation.
- Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie adopted David Banda, now 3, from Malawi in 2006 after helping build an orphanage there.
David's biological father still resides in the African country. If all goes according to plan, Mercy will join, besides David, 12-year-old Lourdes (Madonna's daughter with former flame Carlos Leon) and nine-year-old Rocco (her biological son with Ritchie).
