The Mario Santo Domingo Foundation-FMSD-, the ALAS Foundation, the
Barefoot Foundation and aeioTu – Carulla Foundation have created an
unprecedented alliance, to support early childhood in Colombia.
As part of the Cero a Siempre (Zero to Always) strategy, Primero lo
Primero (First Things First) is a public-private partnership to build,
equip and operate 13 new early childhood development centers in
different regions of Colombia, which will be serving over 5,920
children.
This initiative was born thanks to the significant contributions of the
Ministry of Education and the ICBF and commitment of the Mario Santo
Domingo Foundation- FMSD-, the ALAS Foundation, the Barefoot Foundation
and aeioTu – Carulla Foundation and 30 public and private institutions.
The partnership was launched at an event yesterday that featured Shakira,
Alejandro Santo Domingo and Maria Clemencia Rodriguez de Santos, First
Lady of the nation.
Said Shakira: "With Primero lo Primero, we begin to realize the dream of guaranteeing
the basic nutrition, education, health and early learning for our
children in Colombia in the early years of life, the most crucial to
their future. With this alliance we confirm that the best social work is
done when the private sector decides to join the public sector to
maximize resources and efforts,” stressed Shakira, Founder and Honorary
President of the Barefoot Foundation, Founder and activist of the ALAS
Foundation.
The first ALAS-IDB Awards took place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia yesterday, with 700 people and institutions nominated for excellence in early childhood development.
Martha Ivette Rivera Mexican Alanis won the ALAS-IDB award for Best Teacher; the book "Antonia" of the Colombian author Paula Mejia Maria and illustrator Paula Dufour of Argentina won the award for Best Publication; the Colombian foundation Fundamor won the award for Best Center; and the Brazilian NGO Saúde Criança won the award for Best Innovation.
The awards were presented by the founder of ALAS, Shakira; the president of ALAS, Alejandro Santo Domingo; and the president of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno.
After the awards, Moreno said: "The best way to change the future of a person is through early childhood development. Investments in early childhood have higher return than at any other time of life. So the IDB and the ALAS foundation have joined forces in promoting quality early childhood development. "
Meanwhile, Shakira said: "This ceremony is a good opportunity for us to recognize and replicate initiatives of high quality child development in Latin America. It is urgent to further expand the commitment of governments and agencies to provide early childhood and all our children the opportunities they deserve. I hope these awards are a good incentive to make further efforts to align and advance the goal of optimal living conditions for our children in Latin America."
We are delighted to announce the full schedule of Shakira at the Summit of the Americas, which is being held this week in Cartagena, Colombia. At the Summit, Shakira hopes to take some big steps in the battle for early childhood development, which she started with her Barefoot Foundation and later through her work with the ALAS Foundation.
Shakira will be at the Summit of the Americas to continue her activism on behalf of disadvantaged children, convinced that education can truly change lives. Her agenda is as follows:
April 12 4 pm - FIRST THINGS FIRST Event Launch - an alliance between Santo Domingo's Foundation, Aeiotu Carulla's Foundation, ALAS, Pies Descalzos and more than 20 public/private institutions that will build 13 educational centers in Colombia. Some 6,260 students will benefit from this initiative. 6:30 pm - ALAS-BID Awards Ceremony
April 13 Conference with Americas Business Trust, to help promote Early Childhood Development policies with the private sector.
April 14 Opening ceremony Summit of the Americas (at which Shakira will sing the National Anthem of Colombia)
April 15 Bilateral meeting between Presidents Obama (US) and Santos (Colombia)
On Thursday, April 12th, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the ALAS Foundation will present their joint ALAS-IDB Awards, which recognize innovations and excellence in early childhood development programs. IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and ALAS founder Shakira will present the ALAS-IDB awards in a ceremony to be held at Napoleón de la Rosa auditorium of the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia.
The awards, which take place ahead of the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, are the first of their type in Latin America and the Caribbean, honoring professionals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to early childhood development in the region
The winners in the categories of Best Teacher, Best Publication, Best Innovation and Best Center were chosen from over 700 nominations after a three-step selection process conducted by prestigious early childhood development experts. Prizes include educational kits, training for early childhood development teachers in the Unites States, computers, video game consoles and television sets.
For more information on the ALAS-IDB Awards, click here.
We're pleased to report that Shakira has been nominated for the TIME 100 list of the world's most influential people. If you think she should be on the list, you can vote (without needing to register) by clicking here.
We're pleased to report that Addicted To You is the latest single to be released from Shakira's Sale el Sol album. The artwork for the new single is shown below. You can download the track from your local iTunes Store now by clicking here.
I want to share one of my favorite songs, 'L'encre de tes yeux'. This is poetry... Shak
The ink of your eyes
Because we will never live together We are crazy because we are alone Because there are so many of them Even the moral speaks for them I would like to tell you That everything I was able to write I wrote it using the ink of your eyes
I didn't notice you were wearing chains Because I wanted to look at you so much I forgot about mine We dreamt about Venice and freedom I would like to tell you That everything I was able to write It was dictated by your smile
During a long time, you will walk around my dreams Always next to me Where the sun comes up If against my will, I'm able to forget you I would like to tell you That everything I've been able to write Will have for a long time the aroma of regret
But we will never live together
L'encre de tes yeux
Puisqu'on ne vivra jamais tous les deux Puisqu'on est fous, puisqu'on est seuls Puisqu'ils sont si nombreux Même la morale parle pour eux J'aimerais quand même te dire Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire Je l'ai puisé à l'encre de tes yeux
Je n'avais pas vu que tu portais des chaînes À trop vouloir te regarder, J'en oubliais les miennes On rêvait de Venise et de liberté J'aimerais quand même te dire Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire C'est ton sourire qui me l'a dicté.
Tu viendras longtemps marcher dans mes rêves Tu viendras toujours du côté Où le soleil se lève Et si malgré ça j'arrive à t'oublier J'aimerais quand même te dire Tout ce que j'ai pu écrire Aura longtemps le parfum des regrets.
Head over to FIFA.com - the official website of football/soccer's governing body - to read a great new interview with Shakira, in which she chats about her burgeoning love of the game and her football-related social projects.
We're delighted to announce that Shakira has been nominated for the 2012 Prince of Asturias Awards, the Spanish awards which are presented to individuals or organizations that make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs.
Shakira's nomination for the Concord Award is in recognition of her humanitarian work, with the Barefoot Foundation, ALAS, as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
The winners will be presented with their awards at a ceremony in Oviedo, Spain, later this year.
We're very pleased to report that Shakira has been nominated for 10 (ten!) awards at this year's Billboard Latin Music Awards. She's up for:
- Artist of the Year - Female Artist of the Year - Song of the Year - Digital Female Artist of the Year - Album of the Year - Digital Soloist - "Latin Pop" of the Year - Solo "Latin Pop" Songs of the Year - Soloist Album of the Year - Social Networks Artist of the Year.
The ceremony will take place on April 26 at the University of Miami in Florida and will be aired on TV. Click here for more info.
