ACTUALIZADO: Pueden ver los vídeos de la presentación de esta iniciativa aquí:
On Monday, February 22 at 1pm, Shakira and World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick will launch a groundbreaking new venture, "The Early Childhood Initiative: An Investment for Life," at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.
The Early Childhood Initiative will provide US$300 million in new funding and technical support to help countries create Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The initiative, together with the ECD Secretariat for Latin America and the Caribbean, will present new policy options to the Millennium Development Goals Summit 2010 (scheduled for September) and the XX Ibero-American Summit, which will take place in Argentina later this year.
Head back to Shakira.com on Monday, when we're hoping to bring you live coverage of the launch here on the website.
We're very pleased to be able to give you a world exclusive sneak preview of the video for Shakira's new single, Gypsy. As you'll notice, it stars Shakira alongside Rafa Nadal.
We can also give you a look at the video for the brand new Spanish version of the song, Gitana.
Look out here on Shakira.com for news of the full video premiere...
Here's a little film featuring Ravish Momin and Rajesh Bhandari, the two percussionists who performed alongside Shakira when she debuted her new single, Gypsy, on US TV at the end of 2009. Enjoy!
We're very pleased to report that Shakira has been nominated for five Billboard Latin Music Awards. She's up for the following:
- Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female - Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year (for Loba) - Latin Pop Airplay Artist of the Year, Female - Tropical Airplay Artist of the Year, Female - Latin Digital Download of the Year (for Loba)
Shakira has won an amazing 12 Billboard Latin Music Awards - including six in 2006. We'll find out whether she's won any more at the ceremony in Puerto Rico on Thursday, April 29.
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) has named Shakira an ambassador for 1GOAL: Education For All.
1GOAL is an international campaign to ensure that every child can exercise their right to an education.
1GOAL is co-chaired and co-founded by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and is supported by the global football/soccer community and its governing body, FIFA. The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is the first World Cup tournament to be hosted in Africa, home to the majority of out-of-school children. 1GOAL is asking fans to lobby their country’s leaders and help ensure all boys and girls have access to quality primary education.
“The World Cup captures the attention and hearts of millions. We must use this moment to raise our voices for 1GOAL and demand that this generation of children have the chance to fulfill their dreams and live up to their full potential through education,” said Shakira. “I’m honored to be part of this incredible movement.”
As 1GOAL Ambassador, Shakira will advocate for universal access to education to world leaders and to the public. Shakira will work to strengthen the campaign alongside world leaders, top footballers and celebrities who have already signed up to the goals of the campaign, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Jacob Zuma, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Bono, Kevin Spacey and footballers Marcel Desailly, Rio Ferdinand, Eusébio and Alessandro Del Piero.
Adrian Lovett, chair of the GCE 1GOAL campaign committee commented: “We are delighted Shakira has joined 1GOAL. She is a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and one of the world’s biggest artists. Her lasting concern for the millions of children who do not have access to any kind of education make her an ideal 1GOAL Ambassador. We look forward to working with Shakira in this very special year to achieve our shared vision of education for all.”
You can check out our exclusive preview of the Gypsy video below. As you'll
notice, it stars Shakira alongside superstar Spanish tennis player Rafa
Nadal.
We can also give you a look at the video for the
brand new Spanish version of the song, Gitana.
We're pleased to reveal that the winner of our second name that tune contest was Emanuele from Sicily, a long-time Shakira fan who correctly identified the track as Whenever, Wherever Your prize package will be winging its way to Italy soon, Emanuele. Meanwhile, Mickael from France - our first name that tune winner - has received his merch prize package, as you'll see from the picture above.
Also, on the subject of Shakira merch, some amazing new Give It Up To Me lines have just been added to the official Shakira store. Click here to check them out.
We're very pleased to report that Shakira will join Alicia Keys and Usher for a one-of-a-kind performance headlining the 2010 NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th. The NBA All-Star Game will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, Score Canada, ESPN Radio, and in more than 200 countries in more than 40 languages. Shakira will dazzle the crowd performing her current single 'Give It Up To Me', as well as 'She Wolf'.
The 2010 NBA All-Star Game performances will take place before the largest crowd ever to attend a basketball game - at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Cos I'm a Gypsy, are you coming with me? 
