Word is Madonna is trying to adopt another child from Malawi, a female child this time around. When she first adopted David Banda, there was so much hype, this and that and thank god it went through. This time around save the children UK seem to be against this new adoption from Madonna. Apparently they are saying that the best place for that child is in Malawi among his extended family and in her culture bla, bla, bla.
Well I beg to differ you see this guy from save the children has no idea what it is like to be in an orphanage in Malawi. Think about the loneliness being parentless as the case with this child. Now in comes a Samaritan offering this child a loving home and a chance for a family. What ever reason Madonna is doing these adoption does not matter, the fact is she is trying to give this girl a chance of a better life. Come on, think about it the fact that the child is in a orphanage means that the extended family if she has any are not capable of taking care of her. Besides as much as we have extended families in our culture in Malawi not every family has an extended family. There are a lot of factors that are contributing to the erosion of our culture as far as extended families are concerned. Firstly there is this HIV/AIDS pandemic, a shift in peoples cultures due to influence from western cultures and financial constraints People are facing and so forth.
I can not entirely blame the Save the Children UK for their stance for they just like everybody else have their own opinion. Celebrities are also their main source of their income, three quarters of which is spent on the organisations themselves living in luxury. I think Madonna has done a good thing starting a debate on the way forward for the plight of orphan’s globally. What save the children are advocating could be seen as discrimination in such that they see a white person adopting a poor African child as some thing morally wrong and yet If Madonna adopts a European child there is nothing wrong with that. We can not choose where we are born, but just because you were born in Malawi dos not mean that you are not entitled to experience a different way of life. Irrespective of being a Malawian this child should have the same rights as every other British orphan. Culture is something that we all pick up along the way as we struggle through life. Human beings can be shaped by their surrounding but that’s why we have education. We get educated and learn as we go through life plus knowledge passed from parents; we eventually reach point where we make well informed choices.
Save the children Fund should now look at it self and realise that times are changing throwing aid to Africans has shown that it is not working. The concept that some how the money used to adopt and raise this child would help her in her present environment is a non starter. This Malawian child is no wild animal that she should need to be left in her environment to flourish and prosper. This might be a chance for this kid for a better life and lots of opportunities. Malawi has about a million orphans surely if some one comes to offer one child a home and chance for a better education and a family that she can call her own. I thought save the children was there to save the children from harm but now it looks like it is Save the Children from better prosperous future. We Africans no longer need survival we need empowerment need to be self sufficient. If you charities really want to help then lobby your governments for fair trade help empower African people. It would be most helpful if you learn to treat us like equals, an African orphan should have the same basic human rights like a European orphan.
In all Madonna is making her adoption application in Malawi and it is only here in Malawi that, the final decision can be made. We Malawian know what’s best for Malawians. Culture should no longer be a barrier or an excuse for denying a child a chance of having a family she can call her own. British or Malawian orphans should have the same opportunities in life. It should not be a case of where one is born rather the ability of the one adopting to give that child the best life possible. It is not the case of money rather the love and comfort of a family. Every child deserves a happy home irrespective of who they are. After all this kid is so young does not even have a clue what culture is at the moment, she is innocent she will have to learn everything from start. I think that’s a good thing . When she grows up she will make up her own mind what’s wrong or right which culture to follow. Culture should not be forced on any child rather every child should be able to make well informed choices of how they lead their lives.
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