On Friday, the Brazilian government together with ALAS Foundation and the Xuxa Meneghel Foundation officially launched a partnership in support of early childhood. This partnership, proposed in March of this year by the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and Shakira, includes action plans to increase quality of education that integrates health and nutrition for children from 0 to 6 in this country by training teachers. The event was attended by important personalities and representatives of the Brazilian government including the Minister of Human Rights Maria do Rosario, the spouse of Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Adriana Anselmo Cabral, as well as ALAS representative, Shakira and Brazilian presenter and president of the Xuxa Foundation, Xuxa Meneghel. 

We're very pleased to report that - as well as being currently nominated for three Latin GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year - Shakira will be the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year,  honored for her renowned artistic and philanthropic contributions at a tribute dinner and star-studded concert on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Songs from Shakira's catalog will be performed by notable artists and friends. A major portion of the net proceeds from the gala will benefit Shakira's Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The Latin Recording Academy's Latin GRAMMY in the Schools educational efforts. The celebration will precede the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.

"It is truly an honor to be in the company of some of the greatest artists and legends of Latin Music," said Shakira about this one-of-a-kind distinction.

"I am elated on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees that the much admired Shakira — whose incredible talent and artistic integrity are equaled only by her commitment and dedication to philanthropy and selflessly helping those in need — has been elected the 2011 Latin Recording Academy's Peron of the Year," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally."

Shakira will have the distinction of becoming the youngest artist to receive the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree. She joins a list of artists that includes Plácido Domingo, Carlos Santana Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Julio Iglesias, and Ricky Martin, among others.

We continue our look back at Shakira's European tour with a brand new video blog made at the Geneva show. As ever, click CC under the video for subtitles.