Shakira and Mexico's President Calderon, via Reuters

Spotted, Columbia University, September 24, Colombian singing sensation Shakira. No, she wasn’t there to prove to New York that her hips really DIDN’T lie, but to advise four Latin American heads of state how to deal with child poverty, an issue which is currently plaguing all of Latin America. Shakira is a strong, committed advocate of a nonprofit organization called ALAS, or América Latina en Acción Solidaria. This organization pushes for policy changes to increase the welfare of children in Latin America. ALAS focuses mainly on protecting children from birth to age six, because it is between these two ages that a child’s brain develops optimum cognitive ability.

Latin America wants to ensure a secure future for their region, so “We can’t lose this chance [to develop our future leaders],” Shakira said, in Spanish. She went on to discuss ALAS’ core hopes; the organization wishes to expand child access to healthcare and quality education. Then, the presidents of El Salvador, Mexico, Argentina, and Panama spoke about their current policies towards child welfare. President Felipe Calderon of Mexico (a Columbia graduate!) paraded his progressive policies. He started a program that gives money to the large population of single mothers in Mexico, so they have the means to get their kids educated and take their children to the clinic. With Calderon’s program, women have some money to invest in microfinance programs for extra funding. Also, the program advocates “communal help” to take care of children. In other words, neighborhoods have started their own daycare services so that single mothers can leave children with the neighbors and go to work. All children in Mexico have free medical care, because there is universal health insurance.

After the presentations, CGG spoke to the event’s host, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs (full disclosure, he also happens to be this reporter’s Sustainable Development professor), about his thoughts on the future of Latin America. We asked him what the chances were that the Latin American presidents would actually implement ALAS’ ideas into their policy. He replied, “We have already followed up with the President of Salvador…we will definitely be putting [ALAS’] plans into operation.” Bravo. And Sachs was definitely a fan of Shakira. After her opening remarks he quipped, "She makes a man want to speak Spanish." So, who knew Shakira was such a progressive philanthropist? Mainstream media should be focusing not only on her beautiful hips, but her beautiful heart, as well.

By CGG Contributing Reporter Shamsa Mangalji