Celebrated international musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira is visiting Bangladesh for a three-day tour of the Sidr hit areas to see for herself the post-cyclone reconstruction efforts and education projects.
The two time Grammy Award Winning singer and song-writer from Colombia, Shakira participated in the cyclone response efforts of UNICEF and its partners in the cyclone-ravaged area of Mirazganj under Patuakhali, she visited the Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) developed for displaced and psychologically imperiled children and participated in the distribution of family kits and warm clothes among them. "I m sorry for what happened to you," she said as she hugged children and women during her visit to the Sidr-affected areas listening intently to their stories, "but things will get better again. I admire your resilience and your patience and how much you still have to give when you have so little for yourselves."
Eleven-year-old Neepa, who lost both parents to the cyclone sang to Shakira and said she wanted to be a singer like her when she grows up. She told Shakira that the UNICEF school she visits is the one source of happiness and stability she has during this difficult time.
"I came to Bangladesh to see the impact of the cyclone and to learn about UNICEF’s approach to education," said Shakira, "we visited a variety of education programmes, I came away with a clear sense that education is a powerful tool to improve people’s lives. By making a small investment in these children we can give them the opportunity they deserve-and we can build a better, safer world."
She also visited UNICEF-assisted Education and Child Protection projects which included pre-and primary schools run by BRAC, adolescent empowerment ‘Kishori Abhijan’ project. Besides, the international music megastar also visited one learning centre under Basic Education for Hard-to-Reach Urban Working Children (BEHTRUWC) project and one girls’ drop-in-centre for Protection of Children at Risk (PCAR) project in Rajshahi and two villages in the district.
Joining as UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2003 at the age of 26, Shakira was the youngest among a world-class roster of celebrities who embraced UNICEF through the years, dating back to Danny Kaye more than 50 years ago and continuing today with more than 100 stars from the world of films, music, sports and literature. Other past and present UNICEF ambassadors include Audrey Hepburn, Harry Belafonte, Roger Moore, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Lange and Mia Farrow. Famous musicians such as George Harrison, Cat Stevens and Robbie Williams have also been associated with UNICEF.
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http://www.shakiramedia.com/video/detail/1441