Estoril, November 29, 2009 - The President of Chile Michelle Bachelet and Colombian pop star Shakira, founder and activist of Fundación ALAS, met for more than 30 minutes in the frame of the XIX Iberoamerican Summit of Chiefs of State and Government. After the meeting they spoke to the international press about their constructive dialogue, which seeks to prioritize social investment for children between 0 and 6 years old from the Latin American nations.

“We had a working meeting were we discussed the necessities of childhood. We know that by providing children with health, nutrition, education and proper conditions, we’ll have healthier and happier young people and adults” said the Chilean dignitary. Shakira praised the model implemented by Bachelet by stating that it is “nowadays an important example to follow given that they have the highest indicators of investment in early childhood”.

The President highlighted the importance that this topic is included in the agenda of this Summit, and in the one of next year’s in Argentina, where the discussion will go around education, by stating that “this would be the core theme to celebrate the bicentenary”.

This meeting of a Chief of State and a representative from Fundación ALAS opens new positive perspectives for the integration of policies focused on the improvement of the quality of life of the millions of children that make part of the population in risk in Latin America. “Children between 0 and 6 years old are the most vulnerable population, and in Latin America there are 35 million that don’t receive any protection from the government”, assured the Colombian singer. “We are here to seal an alliance for early childhood”, she added. As Bachelet stated by quoting Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, “the future of our children is today”.