Madonna may adopt second child from Malawi

The 50-year-old singer is considering the new addition to her family despite her recent divorce from husband Guy Ritchie. "Many people, especially our Malawian friends, say that David should have a Malawian brother or sister," the pop star told the country's Nation newspaper. "It's something I have been considering but would only do if I had the support of the Malawian people and the government, she said, writing in response to emailed questions from the paper's readers.

Madonna took baby David Banda from an orphanage in the country in 2006. His adoption was confirmed in 2008, despite some criticism from within the country.

Critics accused the Malawian government of sidestepping laws banning foreign adoptions to allow the celebrity to take 13-month-old David home with her. After the adoption was legalised, Madonna said the difficulties had arisen because "this adoption essentially was the beginning of the creation of adoption laws in Malawi". She hoped it would make it easier for others to adopt from the country and explained: "I am the template or the role model, so to speak, for future adoptions." David's father, Yohane, put him in an orphanage after his mother died. After the adoption was finalised, he told reporters: "I am glad it's all over, I am glad David has a new, good home." The singer told the Nation she was keeping her son in touch with his roots. "It is a big priority for me to educate my son about the world, but always to stay connected to his Malawian culture," she said. "He has a big map of Africa in his room with lots of arrows pointing to Malawi."

In the newspaper, Madonna was also questioned about her divorce from David's adoptive father, Guy Ritchie, which became final in November 2008. She replied: "Everything between us is very amicable... We both agree that our children should always feel a deep connection with both their parents. "It is our responsibility to give them that foundation." Madonna made a documentary film 'I Am Because We Are' about orphans in Malawi, a country where the Aids epidemic has left more than a million children without parents. The star also has two biological children: Rocco, her son with Guy Ritchie, and Lourdes, whose father is Carlos Leon.

Inter-country adoption is not a new idea, although the recent flurry of celebrities that have chosen to travel overseas to find a child to adopt has dramatically increased media interest in the issue. With the affects of HIV/AIDS beginning to impact severely on many developing country populations, providing long-term care to children who have been orphaned or lost the support of their parents and family is an important question facing governments and welfare agencies around the world.

In Malawi alone there are over 1 million orphaned children, half of which is as a result of HIV/AIDS. Adopting one of these children does little to improve the situation of the other thousands of children in need of care and support. Thanks to the help of our sponsors and donors worldwide, SOS Children currently cares for over 300 children in its villages and youth homes in Malawi and supports a total of 50,000 people with education and skills training, medical support and family strengthening programmes. By working with local communities and supporting them through even the most difficult of times, our aim is to keep as many children within their family or extended family network as possible.

For children who have lost the care of their parents, adoption is one option to ensure that a child can grow up with the love and security of a new family. However, in many countries, particularly in Africa, it is the extended family networks that have traditionally provided a safety net for children who have lost the care of one or both parents. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins will often take on the responsibility for caring for vulnerable young relatives, ensuring that children can continue to grow up in a familiar environment with friends and family nearby. This also means that the child is able to continue to practice and be part of any cultural, religious and ethnic traditions.

SOS Children cares for over 70,000 children in its villages and youth homes around the world and as far as possible, cares for these children in their local area, by mothers who respect their diverse cultural backgrounds. By keeping them close to their roots, children are able to maintain contact with any surviving family as well as with their community.