(BBC)- - Pop star Madonna is in the African country of Malawi on a mission to try to help orphaned children living with HIV and Aids.
The singer plans to launch six projects to help underprivileged children.

According to a government official there, Madonna is also hoping to adopt a local child.

Benston Kilimbe from the Social Welfare Department claims the singer is due to file adoption papers. There has been no official word from the star herself.

Madonna and her husband already have two children, five-year-old Rocco and their daughter, Lourdes, nine.

Feeding centre

The pop star is due to travel to a village called Mphandula where she wants to set up an education and feeding centre for children orphaned by the Aids epidemic.

If the singer, famous for constantly re-inventing herself, does go ahead with the adoption she follows in the footsteps of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.

Jolie, who gave birth to Brad Pitt's child Shiloh Nouvel in Namibia, has also adopted children from Cambodia and Ethiopia.

In a recent interview to Time magazine, Madonna said she planned to raise at least $3m (£1.6m) for projects supporting Aids orphans in Malawi.