Madonna Abandons Malawi School Project, Critics Tell Her To Return Adopted Kids
Posted on Mar 25, 2011 @ 01:36PM
Malawian education expert and academic Dr. Steve Sharra wants superstar Madonna to return her two adopted children David and Mercy if she doesn’t build her promised school for needy African kids, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Dr Sharra is furious that Madonna and her Raising Malawi charity has scrapped her plans for a $15 million school for about 400 impoverished girls due to mismanagement.
PHOTOS: Madonna & Lourdes On Vanity Fair Red Carpet
And he used his Twitter account to attack the famous performer by writing: “Madge, if you don’t change your mind about the school, I might consider asking for David [and] Mercy’s return.”
The Malawian government is also furious at the change of plans by Raising Malawi and the famous performer who controversially adopted her son David Banda in 2006 followed by her daughter Hope in 2009.
PHOTOS: Couples We’d Like To See!
Education Minister Peter Mutharika said: “We’d like to know why she has changed,”
“Yes, we do appreciate that it is her project; she devised it and she knows best how to implement it. But still, as government, we’d be interested to know why there is this change.”
PHOTOS: Top Hollywood Stars Who Are Gay Or Bisexual
Mutharika – who is tipped to be the next president when his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, ends his final term in 2014, added: “I honestly don’t know the number of schools she is going to construct, where she will build and for how long. So until we talk to her, we can’t comment much.”
Raising Malawi has ousted its board of directors and replaced its members with a new set of officials that includes Madonna and her manager, according to the New York Times newspaper.
LONG LOST PHOTOS: Madonna - Before She Was Famous
Rabbi Michael Berg – the co-founder of Raising Malawai - sent an e-mail to the charity’s members stating: “A thoughtful decision has been made to discontinue plans for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, as it was originally conceived.”
The charity had drawn financial support from Hollywood and society circles, as well as the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Centre International, which Berg heads.
PHOTOS: Bikini Babes Who Have Dated Pro Athletes
The Malawi school had collapsed after spending $3.8 million on the project and its executive director, the boyfriend of Madonna’s former trainer Tracy Anderson, left in October amid criticism of his management style and cost overruns.
Madonna issued a statement on Thursday saying she was still intent on using the organization, which has raised $18 million so far, to advance improvements in the beleaguered nation.
PHOTOS: The Sexiest Reformed Partiers
“There’s a real education crisis in Malawi,” she said.
“Sixty-seven percent of girls don’t go to secondary school, and this is simply unacceptable. Our team is going to work hard to address this in every way we can.”
PHOTOS: Madonna’s New Dolce & Gabbana Ad Campaign
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest nations, with more than half of the population of 12 million living on less than one dollar a day.
Some 200 people were removed from Chinkhota village, on the outskirts of the capital, Lilongwe, in preparation for the Raising Malawi Girls Academy.
RELATED STORIES:
- 'The Hunger Games' Star Elizabeth Banks Talks Difficult Scene — Huffington Post
- Kissing Connection: Past and Present Loves of Vanessa Hudgens — Celebuzz
- The Next Season Of “America’s Next Top Model” Will Feature A British Invasion — The Frisky
- Kate Middleton: Puppy's name is Lupo — Zap2It
- Justin Theroux: Jennifer Aniston Loves When I Break Dance — Celebuzz
- Lana Del Rey: From Tomboy To Head Turner! — Global Grind
- Click Here & Join Our Facebook Page — Facebook
THEY TOOK HER MONEY. THEY DON'T WANT HER HELP.
Posted Sat, 03/26/2011 - 8:38am
YOUR FAULT. MADONNA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVIVAL of ur country. If she is then make her PRESIDENT or QUEEN and let her run it.
Posted Sat, 03/26/2011 - 6:52am
So basically this man thinks that there is a return on children?/?? Does she have to show a receipt? Proof of insurance also? You tried to hustle and got hustled by a celeb.
Posted Sat, 03/26/2011 - 6:52am
you people act like 15 million is nothing for to just hand over i can see 1 and a 1/2 million MAYBE BUT 15 is just insane.
what are u gonna du sidney send somebody to break her leg if she doesnt cough up the cash
Posted Sat, 03/26/2011 - 3:31am
Fact: Madonna has initially given $3.5 million to build that promised school. The school authorities have nothing to show where that $3.5 million went, not even the plot of land to build school on.
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 9:41pm
Madonna is an idiot to give this project to someone so ill equipped to handle it! She dropped the ball big time. She was there for the cameras & the adulation at the groundbreaking; now she's gone. Sickening.
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 9:29pm
what a d!ck. He has no RIGHT to charity money for one. He would rather those kids get AIDS and end up on the street instead of getting his 14m? what a wonderful guy!! Mismanaged money means someone took it.. respect that its getting fixed at all
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 8:45pm
She bought her children, and now the purchase is complete, she's ready to move on.
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 6:40pm
She is so selfish she diplaces families for a shrine to herself, does not care about educating kids of Malawi. She could easily have equiped the country with books & pencils etc out of her own pocket, no rine needed.
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 4:24pm
Madonna just made those promises to get those kids. She should be forced to at least give the charity/orphanage the 15 million.
Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 3:51pm