Shakira Supports Early Childhood Education With New Initiative

We all know that Shakira is an amazingly talented singer and dancer, pero la sexy Colombiana is also a leading advocate for children and the founder of ALAS, a non-profit organization that promotes Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Yesterday, the Grammy Award-winning artist joined forces with the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, to launch an $300 million Early Childhood Initiative.  The program will go towards funding development programs that will provide children from birth to 6 years of age with adequate nutrition, health care, and stimulating environments to give every child a fair start. There are approximately 22 million children in Latin America who have no access to education, and Shakira is making every effort to try to change that and help ensure a more positive future that will boost economic growth, global security, and peace by investing in early education for children. Que buena causa, verdad?

Before arriving at the World Bank, Shakira had the opportunity to discuss with President Obama their shared interest for the promotion of ECD programs in Latinoamerica as well as in the US.
According to Shakira:
"Education has the power to change children’s lives but also the lives of their families and entire communities."

With some small talk about the President's immigration reform, Obama assured the singer that his staff is doing everything possible to address the 11 million undocumented people in the country.

The combined efforts of ALAS and those of the World Bank and other leading organizations ensure a brighter future for the children en países latinos.  Shakira, thank you for being such an influential Agente de Cambio!

Photos via Getty Images and Marlon Correa

Tags Agentes De Cambio, ALAS, Early Childhood Initiative, Education, President Obama, Shakira, World Bank