Madonna's children's home takes shape in Malawi

Madonna

Construction has begun on a children's home for Aids orphans being built in Malawi with the help of a donation from Madonna, who is visiting the southern African nation.

The orphanage in Mphandula, 50km outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to Aids.

Madonna spent yesterday resting at exclusive Kumbali Lodge which is next to President Bingu wa Mutharika's fortified 300-bed US$100 million ($A135 million) New State House but also close to squatter camps housing the capital's poor.