Pop-star Shakira a “committed philanthropist”, global education advocate

Pop singer and international superstar Shakira appeared today at a press conference with Representative Nita Lowy (D-NY) to campaign for the “Education for All Act.” The bipartisan act, if implemented, will increase funding for the U.S. to provide resources and leadership to “ensure all children have access to a quality basic education.”

Shakira was surrounded by fifty students from across the country, and said she was committed to improving the lives of children all over the world. Lowy called her a “committed philanthropist” and the singer described her plan to increase funding in order to do many things, such as create schools in developing countries.

Shakira discussed that the issue of helping developing countries improve their educational standards was particularly important to her because she herself had grown up and gone to school in a third-world community. The students in the packed room with the singer seemed receptive to her enthusiasm, and she reciprocated the warm reception they gave her by shaking hands and signing autographs with them after her speech.