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[Shakira's latest song 'Gypsy' plays in the background as she enters]
(Zohreh Tabatabai) Welcome, Welcome Shakira, welcome Director-General, welcome friends.
I know that we are very excited to have such an incredible woman among us
and I am not going to waste your time by giving my accolades.
I think the best I can do is ask that you are quiet for a few minutes
while we show a little video of her foundation.
The foundation through which she helps
thousands of children gain education in her country
but I think more importantly this has been extended to another foundation,
the ALAS and as you probably know she has just signed up
for some money with one of our sister agencies,
although sometimes they think they are not a sister agency,
the World Bank.
So if I might ask you to be quiet for a few minutes while we play this video, thank you.
(Child voice in Spanish) I have a dream,
I dream about growing up,
But one day while I was dreaming all of a sudden
it was all over.
[children screamig]
In Colombia, there is something called displacements
that puts an end to dreaming, laughing, playing,
choosing, eating and even to our lives.
42% are children, girls and boys like me
more than 3 million Colombians don't get a proper education.
There are 2 million displaced people.
Here our dreams come back.
There's hope for every displaced Colombian child and
for our parents because here they can make a living.
"Here, we are building a school of the Barefoot Foudation"
Here we have fully equipped schools,
community projects,
health centres,
family micro businesses,
scholarships to study, nutrition scholarships.
Help a child,
with the 'Plan Padrino' (Godfather plan)
I have a tomorrow, a tomorrow that belongs to me,
and to all those children around me in Shakira's Barefoot Foundation.
I am happy once again!
Here we can learn good things that can help us in the future.
It's cool because they teach me how to multiply, divide.
I want to thank Pies Descalzos Foundation.
To all around helping us, thank you.
Here we have a tomorrow, a future that's ours…
but what I like best is that here I can stay alive !!!
(Shakira's voice) Children are a country's best asset.
If we don't educate our children,
if we don't attend their basic demands,
I believe we will not progress as a nation.
To protect and to care for our children is to ensure a better future for all,
not only for Colombian but for the world.
Colombia must be a concern to the international community.
(text) Children are the best real capital of a country,
for them we have to worry, in them we have to invest.
Barefoot Foundation. Looking for support of the community, the country, and the entire world.
[applauses]
(Zohreh Tabatabai) I would like to ask The Director General, Mr Somavia to do the honours now.
(Juan Somavia in Spanish) Dear Shakira, Thank you! thank you very much.
What we have just seen gives us some idea
of the full meaning of what the "Barefoot Foundation" and its impressive work represent.
Thank you for sharing with us here today this dream which has become a reality.
It is an inspiration for us all
and we are honoured that you were able to visit our organization today.
Thank you very much.
(Juan Somavia - in English) SHAKIRA - a name with instant global recognition.
And behind the name -
a distinctive talent, a distinctive person, a distinctive story.
Blending many cultures and influences,
from Lebanese, to Colombian, and to Italian.
you appeal across cultures, borders, age groups.
And we see it in this room:
you bring together a cross section of generations and cultures.
here today, ILO colleagues,
children, young people -,
coming in the happiness of the kids
the happiness of the children that were out there
was absolutely fantastic... fantastic!
All these people united by a common interest and admiration for you,
for what you do, and for what you represent.
Thank you for being part of our continuing celebration at the ILO
of the United Nations World Day for Social Justice.
And we are delighted that representatives of the whole UN Family
who are here with us are attending a meeting of the system
and could join in this celebration.
I was saying we are delighted but the truth is they are delighted,
they came to a boring UN meeting and look where they are today now.
We are pleased to honour what you are doing
to enable children and young people living in poverty
to benefit from the empowering role
and the transforming capacity of quality education.
Your friend, Gabriel García Marquez,
a fellow Colombian Nobel Prize winner, tells us that sometimes:
"La sabiduría nos llega cuando ya no nos sirve de nada"
or sometimes he says:
"wisdom comes to us when it can no longer do any good."
Definitely this does not apply to you, Shakira:
your youthful wisdom and social consciousness
were put to good use very early on.
and you resolved to be a catalyst for change;
To help children escape the grip of poverty through education;
To bring back dreams and
hope to lives scarred by the trauma of violence and displacement.
Creative and tenacious, with a unique style,
you conquered the hearts of millions
throughout the world and you fought your way in the tough world of the music industry.
And, in 1995, just 18, 18 years old, you launched both the album "Pies Descalzos"
that rocketed you to international recognition, and your Foundation with the same name.
It was the explosion of a brilliant career; the blossoming of many dreams.
and as we saw, Fundación Pies Descalzos is enabling girls and boys to have
a better life in the present and to lay the foundation for decent jobs and a decent life in the future.
The objective, and this has been your task, and your role
and your conviction, and what I admire and so many of us admire
is the dedication to this role that you have decided to assume.
The objective is education but the action covers much more:
children are provided with the support they need
to benefit from education - whether nutrition
and health care, counselling or leadership training.
And children are not seen in isolation but as part of families and communities.
Parents are empowered through literacy programmes,
training and income-generating activities.
Communities are reinforced.
Let me say what I find fantastic is that
there is an internet tribute to Shakira which simply says:
"Eres un corazón"
"You are a heart"
and with the warmth and spirit of your native Barranquilla,
you embrace your mission with heart, with joy and with generosity.
You execute it with determination and strength,
marrying common sense with business sense
and you foster your social commitment on that business, yes! "Eres un corazón". (You are a heart)
You are determined to influence policy decisions
and to mobilize public and private will.
Balancing show business and the cause of social justice,
you move tirelessly and with ease
to wherever your mission calls -
from the Altos de Cazucá in Bogotá,
to the White House in Washington, only recently,
to the One Goal Education for All Campaign,
to UNICEF, the World Bank and you honour our house today.
You connect the pieces and the players. Si, eres un corazón! (Yes, you are a heart!)
So many of us in the UN family see elements of our own mandates
represented in your work and this is because your programmes educate to empower,
which is the foundation of dignity at work and dignity in life.
Today, here, the paths of an extraordinary human being,
the ILO - the world of work organization which receives you,
and the whole UN Family who is here with us,
come together for a precious moment - for a moment to honour you.
Thank you for your unwavering belief that: "Sí se puede". ("Yes, we can")
You are a true ambassador for children and young people
for quality education and for social justice.
On behalf of the ILO it is my honour and great pleasure to present you
with a medal honouring your work -
a symbol of our appreciation and recognition for what you do, and it says:
'Shakira, for her commitment to promoting the advancement of children and youth around the world'
Thank you, thank you so much, Eres un corazon.
[applauses]
[applauses]
(Zohreh Tabatabai) Thank you, I would like to ask Shakira, if she could come and give us a few words.
(Shakira - in Spanish) Thank you so much for those very kind words.
I am really moved to see so many children, so many young people
who have come to share this moment with us this afternoon.
I would really like to thank you for your most warm and moving welcome.
In fact none of my efforts would be worth it
if there were not so many committed people beside me working for the children's cause
and it is to them that I would like to dedicate the honour you have bestowed on me.
(in English) Thank you for your welcome and for this great honour.
Thanks for this warm welcome and your sweet words.
I was just saying that none of my efforts would really find their way to be realised
if I did not count on people who work tirelessly,
who work really really hard for this cause of children, so thank you so much.
The ILO has been a beacon for social justice
and it is a privilege to be here this evening and share my dream for the future-
a dream I believe goes hand in hand with your vital work.
As a child in Colombia, I witnessed extreme poverty,
injustice and inequality
that denied children the chance to realise their full potential,
to have a better future and to contribute to the development of our society.
Witnessing so much despair shaped my dream and my vision of social justice:
to see a world where every child can live a dignified life
with the opportunity to reap the benefits of a good education and a chance to pursue their dreams.
Investing in a child means investing in our collective future.
A child who receives quality education, nutrition and care in life
will have higher earnings, better health, stronger relationships
and higher productivity throughout his or her entire life as an adult.
I've seen first hand the impact education has on children and their families
through our Barefoot and ALAS Foundations.
We can't stand by and let more young lives be wasted and more young dreams denied.
At the Barefoot Foundation we've developed a model that supports the whole child-
and their whole community- in the most vulnerable parts of my country, Colombia.
We provide nutrition and high quality education for more than 6000 students
and Support and training for their parents and for the entire neighbourhood.
Our schools are more than just classrooms-
they become the biggest support these communities have to thrive and to survive.
Through these comprehensive programs we are confirming and proving every day
that education saves lives and breaks the cycle of poverty.
If we can do it, surely our governments can too.
Our work at Barefoot and ALAS is deeply tied to the ILO's Decent Work Agenda
and your commitment to justice and peace. By creating decent work for parents,
protecting the working conditions of teachers and eradicating child labour.
How? Through education which I see as the only path to peace and global stability.
The ILO has proven that it's not afraid to speak up for the weak
and that is why I am here.
'Cause you've always understood that social, economic and environmental policies
and action must work together to create sustainable change.
Mahatma Gandhi said once: "Be the change you want to see in the world".
So let's be that change!
It's not too late to keep our promise to our children, but we must act now.
Together, we can make education and decent work for all a reality.
Thank you Mr. Somavia, ambassadors and distinguished guests.
I am honoured and I humbly accept this award
which I'd like to share with our partners and all those who have helped shape our work
and also have dedicated their time and energy towards children
also I would like to share this award with the dedicated teams at both Barefoot and ALAS,
also with my dear María Emma Mejía, who isn't here today,
she has been the president of our Foundation for many years
and has been working tirelessly and hand in hand with me for all these years
and in the name of all the children around the world who live in conflict or extreme poverty
but who are still full of hope and fall asleep every night dreaming of a better future.
Let's give those children the chance to build a just and peaceful future for themselves
and for many generations to come.
Thank you so much.
(Zohreh Tabatabai) Thank you. Shakira is signing the Golden book of the International Labour Organization.
Please keep your seats.
[Shakira's latest song 'Gypsy' plays in the background]
(Zohreh Tabatabai) Please keep your seats until the Director-General accompanies her.