Colombian pop singer Shakira visited a school in Brazil Friday to officially open a program for early childhood development, along with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
The action plan was created in collaboration with ALAS, a non-profit organization that seeks to implement integrated early childhood public policies in Latin America. The goal of the plan is to increase access to quality education, health care, and nutrition for young children in Brazil.
Shakira said of the ambitious project, “the first six years of a child’s life represent the most important stage of development. It is in these years when their brains and capacities, their functions and basic skills are developed. Therefore, I am convinced that investing in early childhood development represents an investment in the future of our countries.”
Shakira, who was awarded “Person of the Year” at the Latin Grammys for her philanthropic work as well as her dance-inducing pop hits, has been heavily involved with the early childhood movement ALAS since its inception.
The singer is a firm believer in early childhood initiatives, saying “if we want to build a better world we have to give children the chance to improve their lives, no matter where they are born or how difficult their circumstances.”