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Madonna holds her adopted son David Banda in her arms as her daughter Lourdes interact with David, Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at the Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji, Malawi .Children at the church-run Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji, a village near the Zambian border, sang and recited lessons for the pop star, while her daughter, Lourdes, took video footage. (Photo:Dayoo.com)
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Madonna jetted out of Malawi Sunday after a six-day visit focusing on her charity work in the impoverished southern African country, according to media reports.
Madonna, wearing dark glasses and carrying the one-year-old Malawian boy she is adopting, boarded a private jet at Lilongwe airport at the end of her visit.
The star and her husband, the film producer Guy Ritchie, took custody of David Banda last October after finding him in an orphanage. Critics said the 48-year-old star used her celebrity status to circumvent Malawian adoption laws -- allegations she denies.
She spent her time visiting orphanages, projects for street children and agricultural development programs as well as opening a new day care center funded by her charity, Raising Malawi. Raising Malawi provides food, education and health services to 32,000 orphans in the country through seven community-based organizations.
David will stay with the couple for 18 months at their home in London before a decision by the Malawian government on whether to finalize the adoption.
Madonna, who lives in London, made one visit to the Home of Hope orphanage, where David lived after the death of his mother in childbirth. This is Madonna's second visit to Malawi.
Her spokeswoman has denied media reports the American star plans to adopt a second child and said she is focusing on her charity work in Malawi during this visit.
Madonna first arrived in Malawi on Oct. 4, 2006, to visit her Raising Malawi project.
The singer has two other children, Lourdes, 9, and Rocco, 6.
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