Thursday marked Colombian pop princess Shakira’s 10th year working as an ambassador for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Shakira was appointed to be a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF ten years ago, on October 24, 2003, and has said that as an artist she has the ability to raise global awareness about human rights challenges and to spur action against them.
“I believe that I have to use the resources provided by my artistic career to tell people about real problems in the real world, and I know that I have to contribute to the search for real solutions. I’m sure that our planet will be a better place if each one of us takes responsibility for the needs of others,” the star was quoted as saying on UNICEF’s website.
Colombia’s sweetheart posted on Twitter in both English and Spanish expressing gratitude for her experience thus far with the international children’s organization.
Celebrating 10 years with @UNICEF. Feeling grateful for all I've learned and looking forward to doing more. Shak pic.twitter.com/EBDdS088pa
— Shakira (@shakira) October 24, 2013
In 1997 Shakira started her own children’s charity called ‘Pies Descalzos’ or ‘Barefoot,’ and has since then provided over 5000 children with proper schooling in Colombia alone. The organization primarily builds schools in impoverished communities in Latin America.
MORE: Shakira charity provides schooling for 4,000 children
Recently Shakira partnered her Pies Descalzos Founadation with T-Mobile in order to mutually promote her foundation and their mobile phone products.
MORE: T-Mobile to partner with Shakira and ‘Pies Descalzos’ Foundation
This week Shakira teamed up with Colombian pop icon Juanes and former soccer star Carlos Valderrama in Miami to support a charity organization called “Give to Colombia,” a high-impact grant provider for projects that benefit vulnerable communities in Colombia. The celebrities signed vintage 100 Colombian peso, which sold for between $200 and $3000. The event raised over $200,000 for Give to Colombia.
MORE: Colombia’s celebrities Shakira and Juanes work together for a good cause
Sources
- Shakira, 10 años como embajadora Unicef (Caracol Radio)
- Shakira Mebarak (UNICEF)
