My two biggest "Colombian Idols" - Shakira and Gabriel Garcia Marquez - are joining efforts to defeat child poverty in Latin America.

The "Latin America in Solidarity Action" (América Latina en Acción Solidaria - ALAS) was launched in a ceremony at the National Theater. The foundation, born from Shakira's mind, will fight against child poverty in all Latin American countries.

The foundation has the support of Latin musicians like David Bisbal, Ruben Blades, Juanes, Ricky Martin, Maná, Aleks Syntek, Juan Luis Guerra, alejandro sanz and Miguel Bosé (who is the executive director of ALAS). Five fund-raising concerts are planned for 2007.

Shakira's concerns about social issues, specially the ones related with children, are not new. She is the head of Pies Descalzos foundation, which helps the child victims of violence in Colombia; and she's also an ambassador for UNICEF.

I think her commitment with Colombia (and now with Latin America) it's remarkable and admirable. I love the fact that Garcia Marquez is fighting side by side with her. I hope more stars will follow their example; if so, maybe someday we'll see the end of child poverty, in our beloved continent.

Source: VivirLatino