Here's a video from the launch of the First Things First initiative in Colombia last week. The initiative's main objective is to combine efforts of technical, administrative and financial cooperation around the development of children under the age of 5, initially via the construction and operation of 13 new centers, which will give comprehensive care to almost 6,000 children.

(For subtitles, click CC at the bottom right of the player)

At the Summit of the Americas in Colombia yesterday, Presidents Obama and Santos and Shakira spoke on early childhood education, Latino education and displaced communities. The leaders highlighted Shakira’s work supporting early childhood education and the futures of the children of the continent.

President Obama acknowledged Shakira’s work in early childhood education, saying, “When we look out to these children behind us, these beautiful children, they have a brighter future ahead of them. But that future will only be fulfilled if we're making investments in them every single day, as Shakira and the First Lady are working to do, as President Santos and I have to commit ourselves to do, but today is an important first step in creating that brighter future for them.”

Likewise, President Santos referred to the actions of his government in support of early childhood education, adding, “Today we are also carrying out a symbolic event with a policy that is a priority in my government, in which my wife has taken a special interest, and that is the policy towards early childhood education. I want to thank President Obama for being here for such an important event; and above all give thanks to these children behind me, to Shakira, and to my wife for her interest in these children who are the future of Colombia.”

In her speech, Shakira also reaffirmed her commitment towards early childhood and said, “I am committed to you in my capacity as member of the Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in the US,” and added “it’s great news that your administration just committed 133 million more in early childhood development initiatives.”

About President Santos’s government and its fight for early childhood education, Shakira concluded, “I am delighted to work hand in hand with you on this new alliance for early childhood that we have announced here in Cartagena to build new centers for education together with your administration.”

Click into the story to read Shakira's speech in full.

Here's Shakira singing the national anthem of Colombia at the opening of the Summit of the Americas yesterday.