Madonna: Buying Her Way In Malawi?

Pop Star Has Given An African Boy A Home, But Did She Do It The Right Way?

(CBS) 
African adoptions are incredibly expensive. Carter-Shotts said some agencies charge as much as $30,000. She said Americans for African Adoptions charges up to $9,000 — $7,500 for Ethiopia and $4,500 for Liberia. In addition, "regular" people have to battle red tape and strict laws.

Cory Barron, a spokesman for the Children's Hope International, which places children from countries like China, Russia and Vietnam in American homes, said he does not know the particulars of Madonna's adoption — but thinks that it has the potential to bring attention to the plight of the world's 140 million orphans. He said his organization deals with countries that see adoption as a good option for their children. But many nations, especially in Africa, are not adoption-friendly, even though UNICEF estimates that more than 12 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africans are orphans.

For example, Barron said that Children's Hope International placed 8,000 Chinese children and 4,600 Russian children in American homes, compared with 441 Ethiopian children. Ethiopia, he said, is one of the African countries with more lenient laws.

"The good thing about Madonna is that she may make the [Malawian] government realize that adoption is a good option," he said. "The reality is there are millions of orphans that need homes and there are very few African countries that are adoption-friendly."

Carter-Shotts would have preferred to see Madonna adopt an older child. She said most African orphans are over 5 years old. She adopted her two African children when one was 13 and the other was 5.

Barron and Carter-Shotts both said adoption should be the last option, and that it's always better to have the child stay in his or her birth country. Banda's mother died shortly after his birth. His father put him in an orphanage because he feared he could not take care of his son.

"She could sponsor the father, she could pay for education, she could financially assist this child," Carter-Shotts said. "There's nothing wrong with staying with Africa. The problem is the disease and the lack of money. There's more than needed on the continent. Adoption is one small portion; sponsorship, schools… all of that is critical."

Carter-Shotts said her organization is currently raising money for AIDS education in Africa. To find out what you can do click here.

[avira56]

I think the laws in that country are a bit arcaic. As long as she goes through the proper background checks and home studies, I say congratulations! I would like to see "stars" and those in the lime light pay attention to home. As an adoptive parent, we have so many children right here in the U.S. waiting for forever families.Everybody wants a baby but what about the older children? Ours were 9 and 5 when we became the luckiest Mom and Dad in the world and the adoption became final! They are great kids and there are more waiting. Call your local child welfare agency, talk to a social worker, meet the children, be an advocate for the many wonderful children right here at home! Thanks.

[xenalily]

I understand the point of those who are saying that what Madonna has done is good for this little boy- I am not disputing that. What I am saying is does this adoption come out of genuine concern or does it come out of wanting attention for your own agenda? HELLO Magic Kaballah? No one else thinks this is totally odd? This is so self promoting. It's an easy formula: Controversial Pop Star/Celebrity with struggling career + adoption of foreign orphan= attention in blogs like this and lots of mention in the news. It had become fashionable to adopt an orphan from another country- it's not a hand bag people it's a child!

[clestes-2009]

I doubt very much that Madonna is going to pay any attention to what is said about her, but I say "Great job!" Kids are this world's future and anyone who takes an orphan into heart and home deserves praise not some piddly *** critisism about how it was done.

[htownjesse]

Good grief, people! Get a grip and a clue. Instead of your complaining about her preferential treatment and....blah, blah blah, put your $ where your big mouth is and go adopt a child yourselves. She is bringing the only surviving sibling of 3 to a better world and life, period! How many of you nay sayers can say that? So, she may or may have not gotten to the front of the line? Oh, wait a minute, I forgot, there is NO line to adopt babies in Malawi. You just bash her for being Madonna, you must be so proud of yourselves. How petty and sad. You go Madonna!

[govslug]

I don't understand what the fuss is all about. The whole world is motivated by money, why should this be any different. So she moved herself ahead of the line, this child will have a better life because of it. Madonna have given thousands of dollars to good causes. Many others will benefit from her decision to adopt this child. So what if she is giving Kaballa water - water is water unless it kills you!

[babygirl60-2009]

What is the big deal. She should be commended for having what she is doing -- helping a child. What would become of this child if this had not been done. We are spending too much time and energy on this. Instead we should be concerned with the children that are being abused and sexually assaulted. Why punish someone for doing something that will benefit and give a child a better life. Ok get a grip and a clue!!!

[whatithink-2009]

"Truth be told, I am certain that a lot of celebrities are more reliant on the Nannies to be the parent, and they will very likely never change a single soiled diaper."

- Who cares? What were the prospects for this little boy had he stayed in Malawi - dying of malaria due to dirty drinking water is a better option than having his diapers changed by a nanny (God forbid!).

"I cannot help but think though what these celebrities have done to deserve preferential treatment over others who want to adopt."

- Here is a hint : rich people get special treatment in most situations, not only adoptions. That is life.

What drives me crazy is that people are upset that this little boy got out of a very, very bad situation more so than the fact that his two brothers died from something that was completely preventable. I just ask people to put themselves into these people's shoes and stop whining!

[xenalily]

I suppose what irks me and obviously some others is that all of this poor, disenfranchised orphan adopting seems so imperialistic and pretentious in many ways. Truth be told, I am certain that a lot of celebrities are more reliant on the Nannies to be the parent, and they will very likely never change a single soiled diaper. It is a wonderful thing that this child from Malawi will have an opportunity for a better life. I cannot help but think though what these celebrities have done to deserve preferential treatment over others who want to adopt. Madonna is very controversial and certainly any other 'regular person' who expressed their sexuality as she has probably would not be allowed to adopt a child. Angelina Jolie has reinvented herself as this great friend of humanity when just a few years ago she was getting attention for nibbling on Billy Bob's ear while he proudly announced to the cameras 'they just f'd in the limo', and sporting a vial of his blood around her neck. When deciding to come up with a new Good Will Ambassador, did the UN slap a tabloid on a dartboard with a blind fold and shoot a dart only to have it land on Jolie? When all of this gets digested, it seems that people pay attention to celebrities no matter how good or bad their behavior is.

[bellabella5]

Actually there was comment over Jolie's adoption.

Adoption clears a major step
Houston Chronicle
May 12, 2002

"Jolie and Thornton, like other families, still must apply for a U.S. visa for their son, but no problems are expected because the INS has investigated the case of each child it has cleared.

In all, 121 Cambodian children have been cleared for adoption or completion of adoption by 113 American families since Dec. 21, INS spokesman William Strassberger said last week.

On that date, the INS stopped issuing visas for children adopted from Cambodia amid concerns that some were not actual orphans. The action drew an outcry from families with pending adoptions and from some members of Congress."

[whatithink-2009]

Imho2,

I don't understand why you are angry that one child is being helped or that she started an orphanage to help many in this country. If the child was you, would you be here complaining that she brought you out of having to grow up where drinking water will kill you? In the end, should what you think matter to Madonna? I mean, if you made a decision to do something and Madonna came and said she didn't like it, would you care?

[imho2]

She played Eva Peron in the movies, and now she emulates her in life - spending so much on 1 child when that same money could be spent feeding and inoculating an entire village in Malawi many times over. If she was actively involved in parenting I would have less to say, but he's already been fobbed off for her assistants to raise (she couldn't even stay in Malawi a few extra days to fly back with him?). So whose parenting skills are the Malawi officials going to be inspecting over the next 18 months? - the assistants, who no doubt spend more time with him? And who is paying for their travel expenses to the UK and/or the US (to accomodate someone else's schedule)? They claim that they are doing everything "through the system" that is in place... Well, it is sadly, but clearly, a system that bends the rules for money.

[whatithink-2009]

This just goes to show that we can find something negative to say about everything. Two of the little boy's brothers have already died from malaria and there are so many children that are living at a standard that even animals in the U.S. would find appalling. Instead of people helping the situation, they only find a reason to find something wrong. Unfortunately if Madonna was not involved at all, the media would care less about what is happening on this continent. People would prefer that Madonna stayed home and let the little boy die.