Shakira lays the foundations for new school in Colombia to help 1,500 impoverished children

By JESSICA SATHERLEY


Brick layer: Shakira took time off from her The Sun Comes Out World Tour to lay the foundations for the school in Colombia


Shakira seems to be on a charity mission this month, and made her home country of Colombia her latest location as she lay the foundations for a school in Cartegena.

Just weeks after visiting a school in Haiti, she jetted down to South America to help with the construction of the project led by her foundation ‘Barefoot’.

The Hips Don’t Lie singer, 34, was snapped laying the first brick for the institution, named Cartegena de Indias, which is set to help 1,500 children in poverty.


Helping hands: Shakira was joined by the president of the foundation Howard Buffett (right) and General Secretary of Unasur, Maria Emma Mejia (left)


Grammy-Award winning Shakira, who was joined by the president of the foundation Howard Buffett and the General Secretary of Unasur, Maria Emma Mejia, said she was very happy to be there.

‘We are very happy to be laying the first bricks of a school being built by the Barefoot Foundation in Cartagena.'


Giving back: Shakira founded her non-profit Barefoot Foundation to help poor children in the Americas


She continued: ‘I want to thank so many people, but especially the mayor’s office because I think this is a very high risk area, it has been identified as a high risk area, and it is an area that a lot of other governments would have simply thrown into the waste basket.’

The school is being built in the impoverished neighbourhood of Loma del Peye and will be large enough to take in 1,500 students, according to the Barefoot Foundation.


Heavy work: Shakira was dressed down for her brick laying duties, in a beige vest top and casual black trousers


The complex, that will include science labs, technology and audiovisual centres, and sporting fields will be spread over 7,500 square metres.

Shakira founded her non-profit Barefoot Foundation to help poor children in the Americas.

The singer took time off from her The Sun Comes Out World Tour to take part in the charity exercise.


Meeting the locals: Shakira took time out to chat with the local residents, who will benefit from the school


But she will hit the stage again tomorrow in Panama City at the Figali Convention Center before heading to Abu Dhabi at the end of April.

Shakira was dressed down for her brick laying duties, in a beige vest top and casual black trousers and took time to meet the local residents and play with the city’s children.

At the beginning of April the stunning singer danced with students in Haiti to celebrate the forthcoming renovation of an historic school, which was ravaged by the devastating 2010 earthquake.



Back to work: She will hit the stage again tomorrow for her concert in Panama City at the Figali Convention Center


source: dailymail

'You're a little diva in the making!' Schoolgirl, 9, wows Britain's Got Talent

By LIZ THOMAS

Diva in the making: Arisxandra Libantino, 9, stunned the judges on Britain's Got Talent with her incredibly powerful voice


When she arrived on stage she was so shy she could barely speak.

But as soon as nine-year-old Arisxandra Libantino was told to sing – she could have rivalled Whitney Houston or Diana Ross.

The tiny schoolgirl stunned Britain’s Got Talent judges and the audience with her powerful voice during her audition.


Shy: Arisxandra had to be coaxed out on stage for her audition in Birmingham, but transformed into a star when she started singing


Accompanied by her parents Aristotle, 35, and mother Elma, 32, she had to be coaxed out on to stage at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre.

She was barely audible when judges asked her name and what she wanted to do.
But as soon as the spotlight fell on her to perform she transformed into a diva beyond her years.

Miss Libantino sang And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going, which Jennifer Hudson performed in the film Dreamgirls.


Incredible: The judges, including Amanda Holden, were blown away by the tiny schoolgirl's performance


The judging panel looked visibly shocked, while the audience cheered as she delivered a note perfect rendition of the song.

Miss Libantino finished to a standing ovation from the judges and the crowd – and was hailed as the best singer yet.

Hasselhoff told Miss Libantino: ‘Are you really nine years old? You are the best singer we have had on the show.


Star quality: Arisxandra has already proved a hit with YouTube viewers, her stand-out voice attracting her attention on the site


‘You are so sweet. You came out. You owned that song. You channelled the diva. Great job.’

Miss Holden added: ‘It is like you channelled some [other] voice from somewhere. You have the biggest set of lungs ever for someone so small.

‘I can’t believe it. I thought you were going to sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. You are a little diva in the making.’

Her father Aristotle, who is a care assistant, revealed that his daughter began singing when she was aged four and used to practise for hours in front of the mirror.


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Simon Cowell does not feature in the auditions phase episodes because of his tight work schedule and plan to launch The X Factor in the U.S – he will return for the live shows.

Piers Morgan also left the show to concentrate on his career in America – so this year comedian Michael McIntyre and Baywatch star David Hasselhoff are on the panel alongside Amanda Holden.


Doggie delight: Talented canine Zac will be hoping to overshadow last year's four-legged darling Chandi


Mr Donnelly revealed: ‘We’ve had lots more pole dancers, dog acts, comics and magicians this year. There has been lots of very talented singing children this year, so that will be quite a competitive area.’

The show starts on Saturday April 16th on ITV1.


ARISXANDRA LIBANTINO.mp4



source: dailymail