The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) has named Grammy Award-winning artist and philanthropist Shakira an ambassador for 1GOAL: Education For All, an international campaign to ensure that all children can exercise their right to an education through achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. As a founding member of the GCE, Education International’s affiliates are raising their voices along with the 1GOAL campaigners.
1GOAL is co-chaired and co-founded by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and is supported by the global football 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.
Shakira, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and President and founder of the Barefoot Foundation, is a tireless spokesperson for the 72 million children worldwide who do not have access to quality education. A leading advocate for education, Shakira has successfully lobbied world leaders for education at venues such as the Ibero-American Summit and the United Nations. In 2008, she served as the chair of GCE’s Action Week. The Barefoot Foundation provides quality education, nutrition and psychological support to more than six thousand disadvantaged children and their families in Colombia.
“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.