Shakira Performs at a Benefit Concert
05/19/2008
Shakira, one of the most successful Spanish singers of all time, reunited with Alejandro Sanz and other Latin American singers to raise awareness about childhood poverty in Latin America. Two simultaneous benefit concerts dedicated to the same cause took place on Saturday in Mexico City and Buenos Aires. Shakira and Sanz performed in Buenos Aires. A wealth of other Latin American singers performed, including Gustavo Cerati, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, MANÁ, Miguel Bosé, and Ricky Martin.
More than 60 percent of the 52 million children in Latin America live in poverty. All proceeds from the concerts will benefit ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action); the Spanish word ''alas'' means ''wings'' in English. ALAS is a nonprofit organization that presses governments and businesses to donate funds to improve the lives of Latin American children living in poverty. Shakira helped raise 200 million dollar in donations from Carlos Slim and Howard Buffett for ALAS.
In an interview with Reuters, Shakira expressed her motivation to help her community. ''Artists have a tremendous power to communicate, to reach people, to woo, to inspire. It's an important and fundamental part of my life to be able to use my public profile to make certain issues visible, issues that are more important than my own career, that are more urgent and need immediate attention.'' In addition to being a spokesperson for ALAS, Shakira is the founder and honorary president of Pies Descalzos, an organization dedicated to enriching the education of Columbia's children.
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