Culture

Shakira Pledges To Build School In Haiti Via Barefoot Foundation

by amyellensoden | January 22, 2010 at 04:48 pm

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Musical artist Shakira has expressed her interest in helping the people of Haiti in their long-term recovery from the massive earthquake that has recently left hundreds of thousands devastated. On Thursday, Shakira announced that her charity, Barefoot Foundation, will be joining Architecture for Humanity to build a new school in Haiti. She has expressed a vested interest in helping with long-term recovery, and giving the children of Haiti a future. The project will work with NGO partners towards providing education, clean water, school feeding, and sanitary conditions among other services.

“There is a great need for immediate aid in Haiti, but also for longer-term reconstruction,” said Shakira. “For that reason, we are doing our small part to help Haiti rebuild and give the children affected by this disaster the chance to learn and thrive. I hope we can use some of what we’ve learned working in Colombia to help Haiti’s children recover. When we educate children we empower societies, and right now Haiti needs all of our help.”

Her US-based Barefoot Foundation charity will work in tendem with her Colombia based Pies Descatzos Foundation. This foundation has helped over 6,000 children and Shakira hopes to do the same for the children in Haiti. Shakira will be participating in the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon that airs tonight to raise funds for relief efforts that will continue in Haiti in the coming months. It is reported that she will be doing a live performance.