International recording artist and humanitarian Shakira continues to make a huge impact in the political arena as a leading global advocate for education and early childhood development. This weekend she spoke alongside US President Obama and Colombian President Santos during the 6th Summit of the Americas in the Plaza San Pedro de Claver de Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Shakira is the founder of both ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action) and the Pies Descalzos / Barefoot Foundation. ALAS is a coalition of artists and business leaders seeking to promote integrated early childhood public policies. The Pies Descalzos / Barefoot Foundation, whose mission is to make education universally available to every child, operates schools and educational projects in Colombia, South Africa, and Haiti, feeding and educating approximately 6,000 children. In October, Shakira was named a member of the President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

FULL CONCERT AND BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE

“A visual CV from a pop superhero” – Tim Burrows, Independent

“The charismatic star gives everything to the performance” – Dave Simpson, Guardian

Following the culmination of her highly acclaimed, sold-out worldwide tour, Shakira is set to release “Shakira, Live From Paris” on December 5th. This special live concert fan must-have, shot at the Palais de Bercy, in Paris, France, is available on DVD, Blu-Ray and download, and includes global hits such as “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever.” Fans will get to experience Shakira like never before with an all-access pass to behind-the-scenes documentary footage.

Shakira’s recent world tour became one of the most praised touring events of 2010-2011 with The New York Times exclaiming, “At the Garden, Shakira is a Star…” and The Hollywood Reporter describing her show as, “A magnificent parade of light and music.” The Los Angeles Times went on to say, “Shakira was carrying out a plan, skillfully and with no shortage of superstar charisma.”

“The Sun Comes Out” world tour, which kicked off in the fall of 2010 in Montreal, Canada and concluded just weeks ago in San Juan, Puerto Rico, included 112 shows in 42 countries and more than 100 cities around the world, and was seen by an estimated audience of over two million people.

Following the end of Shakira’s world tour last month, she was officially appointed to a key administrative post on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission for Hispanic Educational Excellence. Next week she will be honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Category of Recording and will also be celebrated as “The 2011 Person of the Year” by the Latin Recording Academy, during the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

“Shakira, Live From Paris” Tracklisting:

Pienso en Ti

Why Wait

Te Dejo Madrid

Si Te Vas

Whenever Wherever

Inevitable

Nothing Else Matters

Despedida

Gypsy

La Tortura

Ciega Sordomuda

Underneath Your Clothes

Gordita

Sale el Sol

Las de la Intuicion

Loca

She Wolf

Ojos Asi

Antes de las Seis

Je L’Aime a Mourir

Hips Don’t Lie

Waka Waka

Yesterday (November 9) Shakira was honored by The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place in front of the W Hollywood Hotel on the world famous cormer of Hollywood and Vine. The event was emceed by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Leron Gubler.

Photo credit: Xavi Menos

International Superstar Shakira boasts a string of chart-topping hits in both English and Spanish and sales of over 50 million records. Her last UK album ‘She Wolf’ entered the chart at number 4 making it Shakira’s fastest selling album to date in the UK and is continually active across the Globe with her ‘Barefoot’ charity.

International recording artist, global education advocate and Barefoot Foundation Founder Shakira is going to Israel to participate in the Israeli Presidential Conference “Facing Tomorrow 2011”. The Israeli Presidential Conference will open June 21 for three days, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center. More than 3500 participants from across the world will participate, including leaders and experts from the scientific, cultural, economic, political, educational and philanthropic fields.

Shakira will be featured at the Conference’s opening plenary session at 17:00 – 18:30, speaking about the importance of education for all children as a path to peace and her philanthropic work being undertaken around the world. Other participants in the plenary session entitled “My Recipe for a Better Tomorrow” include comedian Sarah Silverman, Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales, marketing genius Sir Martin Sorrell and professor of psychology and author, Dan Ariely.

Adv. Israel Maimon, chairman of the Israeli Presidential Conference Steering Committee said that this year, the Conference has welcomed among others, artists of the highest caliber who are advancing social agendas: “The Israeli Presidential Conference is the most diverse conference in terms of its worlds of content. This year we were able to enlist prominent artists who use their artistry and their high media profiles in order to change the world and impact upon tomorrow”.

Shakira founded “The Barefoot Foundation” whose mission is to make education universally available to every child. The Foundation’s supporting bodies include the Clinton Foundation, Howard G. Buffett, Nestle, Seat. Funadcion Telefonica, FC Barcelona and the Hard Rock Cafe chain. The Foundation is currently operating educational projects all around the world in countries such as Colombia, South Africa and Haiti. In 2010, the Foundation, in conjunction with the World Bank and led by Shakira, launched a groundbreaking $US 300 million joint initiative aimed at expanding development programs for young children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Under the auspices of President Shimon Peres, the greatest minds from Israel and the world are convening in Jerusalem for the third time, in order to look towards tomorrow’s challenges. Senior figures of the global and Israeli economies will come to Jerusalem next week to discuss the economic challenges which stand before us. Participants include: Governor of the European Bank Jean-Claude Trichet, Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer, former World Bank head James Wolfensohn, Professor Larry Summers who until recently was the Director of the White House National Economic Council in the Obama Administration, Nobel Prize Laureate Erik S. Maskin, Goldman Sachs’ economist and analyst Abby Joseph-Cohen, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond, Vice President, Advertising and Global Operations of Facebook David Fischer, CEO of HP Leo Apotheker, TIVO CEO Tom Rogers, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG Rene Oberman, Chairman and CEO of Verizon Ivan Seidenberg and others.

The Israeli Presidential Conference is the largest global conference focusing on tomorrow; bringing to Israel the world’s greatest minds in order to discuss how we can make the global, Jewish and Israeli tomorrow better. Adv. Israel Maimon is chairman of the Conference’s steering committee.

The Barefoot Foundation is a US-based non-profit whose mission is to make education universally available to every child. Barefoot supports sustainable and innovative education programs while working to educate policy-makers about the vital importance of education.www.barefootfoundation.com

Supports Haitian Reform To Broaden Access To Free Quality Education

The Interamerican Development Bank and Colombian artist Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation announced today (5/4/11) that they will support the Haitian government in the reconstruction of the historic public school in the Haitian capital.

The Elie Dubois school, located in the center of Port au Prince, suffered serious damage due to the earthquake last year. Founded in 1913, they have offered secondary education and vocational training to generations of young Haitians under the guidance of the Catholic order Daughters of Mary.

The announcement of the contributions of a total of US$800,000 for reconstruction and new supplies to the school took place during a ceremony in the courtyard of the institution, with the participation of Haitian governmental authorities, guests of the international community, professors and students.

“Education is critical to the future of Haiti”, affirmed the President of the IDB, Luis Alberto Moreno. “Today we are here not only to support the reconstruction of a school, but to manifest our support for the efforts of Haiti towards transforming its entire educational system”.

The minister of Education, Joel Desrosiers Jean-Pierre, stressed that with international aid, Haiti has been able to resume classes for more than a million students following the earthquake, which destroyed or damaged thousands of schools.

“I am convinced that the only thing that will change the fate of Latin America and the Caribbean will be governments placing themselves at the center of the investment towards a quality education for all boys and girls, from birth and thereon in”, said Shakira.

The singer shares with the IDB a special interest in the integral development of early childhood development beginning in infancy. Through her foundation she promotes and implements educational, nutritional, and health-related programs for boys and girls affected by the poverty and violence in Colombia. Pies Descalzos has built 5 schools that serve over 6,000 children as well as their families and communities.

Architecture for Humanity (AfH), an NGO that specializes in the design and construction of schools, clinics and homes in areas afflicted by natural disasters, is also working on the Elie Dubois project.

This project was made a reality thanks to the donation of funds raised by Shakira and the Pies Descalzos Foundation with the Freixenet Christmas campaign in Spain, the Interamerican Development Bank, the CINA Foundation (Cement Company of Argos Colombia and of the Haitian government); Unesco, the NGO Architecture for Humanity (AfH), among other donors and benefactors.

Colombian Superstar Shakira is set to release her brand new single “Loca”, featuring Dizzee Rascal on November 28th. Recorded in the UK, Shakira brings her signature fusion of musical identities to this production of “Loca” by blending the horn-heavy elements of meringue with a synthesis of techno percussions laid out to a dance back beat.

For the “Loca” video, Shakira and Dizzee took to the streets of Barcelona, with a handheld camera, as the backdrop for “Loca.” In an attempt to capture the true interpretation of the song, Shakira opted to go away from the traditional big production music video to portray a spirited, fun-filled day being ‘loca’ in the streets with the people of Barcelona.

“Barcelona is one of my favorite cities and has become a second home to me,” said Shakira. “The video is just about having fun and being real in this amazing place with real people.”

Shakira’s global hit “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” has become the best-selling World Cup song in history. “Waka Waka” has sold an astounding two million singles. and its success goes far beyond its popularity as a song, the song and accompanying dance has become a cultural and viral phenomenon. In the

UK, “Waka Waka” has sold over 130,000 copies.

The official video for “Waka Waka” has seen over 170 million YouTube hits making it the #4 most watched video of all time and the #3 most watched music video. Including unofficial “Waka Waka” videos, the total cumulative views are over 350 million.