Madonna’s charity, Raising Malawi, is setting up an orphan care centre to provide food, education and shelter for up to 4,000 children. It will have projects based on Kabbalah, Judaism’s mystical sect, which counts the 48-year-old singer among its devotees.

In an open letter to Madonna, Eye Of The Child had questioned whether foreign adoptions were in the best interests of children. But Mirriam Nyirongo, a retired nurse who runs an orphanage in the northern Malawian town of Mzuzu, said: "We must be frank. We can’t afford to look after the thousands of babies that are being orphaned every day. If rich people like Madonna take just one child it will be a major boost for Malawi. For people like baby David, when they come to know their roots, might wish to do the same for others."

Madonna Adoption Confirmed - Oct 13 2006
Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have been granted custody of their adopted African child David, the star’s spokeswoman confirmed today. The pop diva has spent a week touring orphanages in Malawi, where 13-month-old David Banda is from.

Her spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg confirmed: "Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have been granted custody of their son David.  Final legal arrangements are being made to bring him home to his new family."

The singer is expected to bring David, whose mother died of a fever a week after giving birth, to London to begin his new life with his adopted family.  David will be little brother to Lourdes, nine, whose father is fitness trainer Carlos Leon, and Rocco, six, son of film director Guy.

Madonna, 48, has met David’s father, a peasant farmer, who has given his blessing to the adoption.  The star has promised David will return to the southern African nation in later life to know his roots, according to reports.

David’s father Yohame has said: "They are a lovely couple. She asked me many questions.  She and her husband seem happy with David. I am happy for him. Madonna promised me that as the child grows she will bring him back to visit."

Madonna files adoption papers - Oct 12 2006
Madonna filed adoption papers at a Malawi court today, a government official said, confirming claims that the star planned to adopt a one-year-old boy.  Kingston Kilembe, director of child welfare services in the Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services, said the celebrity and her film director husband Guy Ritchie filed adoption papers today before a judge at the Lilongwe High Court.

"They have followed the normal processes. This has been going on for some time. Now this is the completion point," he said.  Kilembe said the judge would review the papers signed by Yohame Banda, father of one-year-old David, whose mother died a month after childbirth of complications, "After the judge has ruled they are going to take the child," Kilembe said.

Banda said he met Madonna and Guy at the court as part of the formalities. While they talked, Madonna, who has two children, carried the baby boy.  "They are a lovely couple. She asked me many questions. She and her husband seem happy with David. I am happy for him. Madonna promised me that as the child grows she will bring him back to visit," Banda said.

Madonna visits Malawi - Oct 6, 2020
Pop diva Madonna spent time chatting to orphans during a trip to Malawi yesterday.

The Hung Up singer has pledged to raise at least three million dollars (£1.6m) for programmes to support the nearly one million children in Malawi who have lost parents to Aids.

She is also hoping to build an orphanage in Malawi, which is among the poorest countries in the world.