New UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Here's something cheerful.  Shakira Mebarak was recently named as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. At 26, she's the youngest person to be so honored. Others have included Audrey Hepburn, Roger Morre, Danny Kaye, Mia Farrow, and Jessica Lange.

In her acceptance speech, she said, "UNICEF has done great work in my country, Columbia, and I have been able to see first-hand the changes that have been achieved."

UNICEF's Web site explains:

<< In her new role, Colombia-born Shakira will travel to see first-hand the struggle of millions of children in developing countries. She will serve as a global representative of UNICEF, using her popularity and her personal interest in children’s issues to support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child survives and thrives through adolescence. >>

She is the also the first Columbian in that role. She certainly seems to exhibit a real consciousness about social issues in Latin America and the world:

<< Born to a Lebanese father and a Colombian mother, Shakira, who has become one of Latin America's most recognizable stars, said she had always dreamed of becoming a public figure to tackle problems of poverty and social inequality. "Education is crucial for progress and the only weapon to win the battle against poverty and marginalization in underdeveloped and developing countries," she told a news conference in the Spanish capital Madrid. >>