video transcript

Colombian pop sensation Shakira visited her home country to attend the launch of a new children's education project which gives aid to nearly 6,000 needy Colombian children under the age of five. The star, who's known for her humanitarian work, praised the work of the organization 'First Things First', which has 13 centres throughout the South American country. SOUNDBITE: Shakira, singer, saying (English): "6,200 children could benefit from a quality education, quality attention in their first six years of life which are the most important years of a human being's existence." The star also presented a prize to a Mexican kindergarten teacher Martha Rivera, who calmed her students during a shootout by singing to them. Shakira will make her way to her home town of Barranquilla before attending the Summit of the Americas over the weekend, where she'll sing the Colombian national anthem and is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama. Edward Baran, Reuters