Shakira - Blue Banner Biographies Author:Rebecca Thatcher Murcia Before Shakira became the internationally famous singer that she is now, she was one annoyed little girl, unable to believe that her parents had sold her home s air conditioners to buy food. Her parents took her to a park in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, to see how poor children drugged themselves to soothe their hunger pains. Shakira ... more »realized that she could live without her air conditioners and took another step. On that day she became determined to become someone who could change the lives of poor children. A little over twenty years later, she has achieved her dream and then some. She has written and performed major international hits such as Hips Don t Lie and Beautiful Liar. And she has remembered the children in the park. Shakira s foundation now operates five schools for poor children in Colombia. Shakira has become a superstar and an important philanthropist who is not afraid to speak her mind.« less