Shakira: This is the moment

26 September 2008 11:11am

Shakira plans to make her Colombian children's foundation a global one in the near future.

The singer - a longtime activist for Latin American's poor children - said Barefoot, known as Pies Descalzos in her native Colombia, will start focusing on children worldwide later this year.

"We have a model that works. Under less than two dollars a day, we can provide a kid with top quality education and the nutrition that they need to be able to function and be able to learn because a kid with an empty stomach cannot learn," said Shakira.

"So this model that has been so successful in my country, now I want to bring it to other countries in my small way."

Shakira made the comments this week after appearing at Columbia University with Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz and the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, El Salvador and Panama.

The event focused on the importance of education, nutrition and health intervention for Latin American children. The singers asked the presidents to adopt an agreement on combating child poverty during the upcoming Iberoamerican Summit.

"The presidents seem very committed and that's what we need. We need all the leaders of Latin America to have a definite commitment toward our children (because) the children of Latin America are waiting for opportunities," said Shakira in an interview afterwards.

"Where I come from every child who is born poor will die poor and we have to change this, and this is the moment to do it."

She said early childhood development "should be at the top of our priorities and at the top of every president's agenda".

The event was sponsored by the Earth Institute at Columbia.

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