Madonnais on “Holiday” with her whole family!
One yearafter opening a hospitalin Malawi, the pop icon, 59, returned to the African nation to visit with all six of her children: 21-year-oldLourdes Leon(with ex Carlos Leon), 17-year-oldRocco Ritchie(with ex Guy Ritchie), Mercy James and David Banda, both 12, and 5½-year-old twins Estere and Stella.
“Tree of Life…..🌴 Mercy James Pediatric Hospital! 🏥 One Year Later! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#everythingislove#malawi,” the “Living for Love” singer captioned the family photo, alongside emoji characters of a tree, hospital, handclaps, heart and Malawian flag.
On July 11, 2017, Madonna’s charity —Raising Malawi— opened the Mercy James Centre, the first children’s hospital in the country.
Madonna with son David and daughters Mercy, Estere and Stella on the cover of PEOPLE (September 2017)
Since her first visit to Malawi 12 years ago, Madonna has had a long history with the country. She adopted David from the capital city of Lilongwe in 2008; a year later, she finalized the adoption of Mercy, whom she met in Blantyre; and in February 2017,she adopted Estere and Stella, who grew up in the same orphanage as David, Home of Hope.
“I love when my kids are in Africa,” Madonna said in a September 2017 PEOPLE cover story. “Their selfless behavior, compared to the normal complaining in the privileged world we live in, is great to see.”
Thoko Chikondi/AP
Madonna and her kids at the July 2017 opening of the Mercy James Centre for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care
Madonna launched her charity efforts in the country in 2006. Per its mission statement, “Raising Malawi supports orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi through health, education and community support.”
In addition to opening Malawi’s first children’s hospital, the organization has helped build 10 schools; and earlier this year, Madonna announced plans tobuild four new schools.
source: people.com
