Madonna and her 9-year-old daughter, Lourdes,
visited a center for street children that benefits from the charity work the
pop star is doing in this impoverished southern African country. Madonna,
wearing her now familiar straw hat, and Lourdes arrived at the center Wednesday
and were whisked into the compound of three buildings. The 47-year-old singer
is visiting Malawi to check on projects run by her Raising Malawi organization.
She arrived Monday with Lourdes and David Banda,
the Malawian toddler she is hoping to adopt. Singing and clapping were heard
coming from children inside what is called a social rehabilitation center in
the capital. The center cares for about two dozen children, providing them with
food, clothing and schooling before reintegrating them into their communities.
A crowd of onlookers cheered “Madonna, Madonna”
when she arrived. “Well done, Madonna. We love you. Adopt more,” read the sign
carried by Richmond Muchina.
“I love Madonna and she is most welcome,” he said.
“I wish she would come every week. She must adopt more and more because she has
got the power.” The Spirituality for Kids program, based on Kabbalah, Judaism’s
mystical sect that counts Madonna among its devotees, is involved with the
center.
Madonna took custody of then 14-month-old David
during a visit to Malawi in October. The move sparked controversy and raised
concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has
been generous to the country. Madonna maintains she has followed the law.
