Shakira: The Singer, Philanthropist and Advocate for Education

Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. She is known for her unique voice, electrifying performances, and fusion of Latin, Arabic, and rock music. Shakira has sold over 70 million records worldwide and won numerous awards including three Grammy Awards.

Aside from her musical talents, Shakira is also an advocate for education and has established several foundations to support children’s access to quality education. Her passion for education was influenced by her father who encouraged her to pursue both academics and music as a child.

In 1997, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation which provides education and nutrition assistance to impoverished children in Colombia. The foundation has since expanded its reach beyond Colombia to other countries including Haiti and South Africa. Through this initiative, Shakira has helped thousands of children receive access to basic necessities such as food, clothing as well as educational materials.

Moreover, in 2011 she launched the Barefoot Foundation which aims at building schools for underserved communities in Latin America with modern infrastructure that includes technology-assisted learning centers with internet connectivity. Since then over six schools have been built in Cartagena (Colombia), Quibdó (Chocó) among other regions where poverty continues being one of the biggest challenges they face.

Shakira’s advocacy efforts do not stop there; In 2015 she co-hosted a global education conference alongside UNICEF which aimed at advocating for better policies on early childhood development programs across the world. Furthermore she was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on his Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics where she used her platform to push initiatives aimed at improving academic outcomes among Latino students in America.

Her commitment towards providing access to quality education led her into partnering with FC Barcelona back in 2020 through their Barça Foundation program – “La Masía”- A New School For Refugee Children In Lebanon-, that provided access to education and sports programs for refugee children in Lebanon.

Shakira’s dedication towards improving the lives of children through education has earned her several accolades including an honor from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation and recognition as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

In addition to her philanthropic efforts, Shakira is also a proponent of alternative schooling and education methods. She herself was homeschooled during her childhood which allowed her to develop a unique perspective on learning. As an advocate for early childhood development, she believes that traditional schooling may not be suitable for all children, particularly those who have different learning styles.

For instance, Shakira has been quoted saying that “I think we need more innovation in education because every child learns differently,” she further explains: “We have this cookie-cutter system where everyone is supposed to learn the same way and at the same pace but it doesn’t work like that.” This statement highlights how important it is for educators to recognize individual differences among learners and utilize various teaching strategies tailored towards meeting their needs.

Furthermore, when speaking with Forbes magazine back in 2019 about her son’s homeschooling experience Shakira mentioned how homeschooling had helped him become self-motivated with his own interests leading him into exploring new ways of acquiring knowledge outside books or traditional curriculum setting.

Shakira’s advocacy efforts go beyond music as she uses her platform to promote educational opportunities for underserved communities worldwide. Her foundations’ initiatives have positively impacted thousands of children across multiple countries while helping bridge the gap in educational inequality.

In conclusion, Shakira serves as an inspiration not only musically but also through her dedication towards providing quality education opportunities globally. Her advocacy work towards improving academic outcomes especially among vulnerable populations demonstrates how using one’s voice can bring about positive change within societies regardless of someone’s background or profession.