Carmen Figueroa Creative Tools For

Social Change Competency – A3X

shakiraThe Humanitarian

Most People know Shakira as the musician that shakes her hips in “Hips don’t Lie” or the girl in the cage crawling around on stage in “She Wolf”

Really though, Shakira’s true passion lies in children and making surethey have an opportunity to grow up.

She believes that education is a human right, - Not a privilege!!!

Shakira grew up in the developing country of Columbia- exposed to the hardships of life she made a commitment to her self and her country that as soon as she found success she would help provide for the kids and their communities.

Columbia is infested with violence, conflict and extreme poverty.The number of displaced people within Columbia places this county in the top 3 population of displaced people of the world. Shakira grew up frustratedWith the fact that “if you are born poor, you die poor”.

slums

Holding true to her promise, as soon as she found success with her she started her foundation Piez Descalzos.

Pies Descalzos has opened up six schools throughout the poorest Communities in Columbia and provides what Shakira finds necessary in Development: nutrition, health and education.

Shakira’s Solution: Education is the key to abolish poverty

Pies Descalzos is named after the kids she remembers while growing up with their tattered clothes & without shoes! This is alsothe name of the album that madeher successful in the music industry.

http://www.youtube.com/v/QxIbovpQWSU

Shakira continued to show her advocacy by continuing to be part of many social change groups benefiting underserved children.

http://www.youtube.com/v/n3iWbpPa0Bo&feature=player_embedded#!

ALAS promotes Early Childhood Development in Latin America.

Shakira is one of many Latin Artists who founded ALAS.ALAS strives to provide three keys of life in order survive the First six years of life:

•Education•Nutrition

•Health Care

In February, Shkira, representing ALAS and Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank signed off on a 3 million dollar Early Childhood Initiative.

The United Nations is using FIFA World Cup as a tool to engage awareness to poverty and provide to provide education by the year 2015 as part of their United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

In 2000, 189 world leaders committed to providing primary education for all its 72 million boys and girls residents by the year 2015.

Shakira’s continuing goal to eliminate poverty and provide what she calls the basic human right to education snowballed into a US based foundation Piez Descalzos. Bare Feet Foundation partners up with many other programs with the fight for world wide education and combat against extreme poverty

“We know how to address this, and it is within our reach. And we can truly be the cause of change and be the first generation in human history to bring education to all children everywhere so no child is left behind.”

– Shakira

Goodwill Ambassador In 2003, Shakira’s commitment as a children’s advocacy representative

earned her the privlage to become appointed a Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF.

Carol Bellamy, UNICEF’s former Executive Director Shakira’s purpose in that “she serves as a voice for those who frequently have no voice — the world’s children.”

On March 4, 2010 she received a Social Justice for Peace Award by UNICEF. She was recognized as a "true ambassador for children and young people, for quality education and social justice." By the U.N. labor Chief Juan, Somavia.

I no longer see Shakira as an international music artist, I see her as a committed social activist using her voice and talent to provide awareness on the importance of education and the much needed help to abolish poverty. Shakira has made a social impact in her homeland of Columbia and is just getting on the impact she is making on the world.

She was once asked what her priority was, “her music or her charity?”She replied, “Music gives me leverage- the tools I need- to work on relevant issues. One thing feeds the other.”