The ALAS Foundation was born as a consequence and a continuation

Shakira, the songstress whose voice has moved nations, once revealed the deeper music of her soul with these words: “The ALAS Foundation was born as a consequence and a continuation of what we are doing with Pies Descalzos. I started the Pies Descalzos Foundation in Colombia when I was 18, and since then, I have been very involved in the crusade for education.” In this declaration, she speaks not as a performer, but as a warrior of compassion. Her words remind us that fame and fortune find their truest meaning not in applause, but in service. They call us to recognize that the greatest legacy is not a song sung on stage, but a generation lifted from despair through the gift of education.

The origin of her statement is deeply personal. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira saw with her own eyes the poverty that gripped children in her homeland—children barefoot in the streets, their dreams stifled before they could bloom. At 18, when many are still uncertain of their path, she created the Pies Descalzos Foundation, meaning “Barefoot Foundation,” to open schools and provide opportunities for those whom society had forgotten. Later, she expanded her mission through the ALAS Foundation, uniting artists and leaders across Latin America in a common cause: the fight for childhood development and universal education. Her journey shows us that one life, if guided by compassion, can ignite a movement that reaches millions.

The ancients, too, knew this truth. In every civilization, the most enduring monuments were not palaces or statues, but the schools, libraries, and centers of learning where wisdom was passed down. Consider the Library of Alexandria, which, though long destroyed, is still remembered because it represented the human hunger for knowledge. Shakira’s foundations are modern temples of this same spirit, places where children gain not only food and shelter but the tools to change their destinies. Her mission is the continuation of this ancient chain: to keep alive the sacred flame of education as the root of freedom and progress.

History also offers us heroes who walked a similar path. Think of Malala Yousafzai, who defied violence and danger to proclaim the right of every girl to learn. Or consider Booker T. Washington, born into slavery, who rose to found schools that lifted generations of African Americans. Their crusade, like Shakira’s, was built upon the conviction that education is not a privilege, but the birthright of every child. From their stories we see that though the weapons of the world may be sharp, none cut deeper than ignorance—and none heal faster than learning.

The deeper meaning of Shakira’s words is that true leadership is born of compassion and continuity. One act of kindness, one foundation, one school is not enough; the work must be carried forward, expanded, and renewed. This is why she calls the ALAS Foundation a continuation: because the work of education is never finished. Each generation must pick up the torch and carry it forward, until every child, no matter their station, has the chance to rise. In this way, service becomes not a single act, but a lifelong crusade.

The lesson for us is clear: we must not wait until we are rich, powerful, or famous to make a difference. Shakira was only 18 when she began her fight for education. What she had was not unlimited resources, but vision and determination. Each of us has something to give—our time, our skills, our voice—and when we give, we become part of the same crusade. For when we lift one child, we lift the future. When we open one door of learning, we open countless possibilities.

Practical action lies before us all. Support schools and organizations that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children. Volunteer your time as a mentor or tutor. Advocate for policies that protect and expand access to education, especially for the poor and marginalized. And in your daily life, value learning, encourage curiosity, and remind the young around you that their dreams are worth pursuing.

Thus, Shakira’s words ring not only as testimony but as a call: the crusade for education is the noblest of all battles, for it does not shed blood but heals wounds, does not destroy but builds, does not silence but awakens. Let us then join in this crusade, and ensure that generations yet unborn will rise barefoot no longer, but walk with dignity upon the firm ground of knowledge.