Shakira Promotes Education In Israel

Colombian pop star Shakira has been visiting schools in Jerusalem as part of her global education campaign to see Israeli and Palestinian children being educated together.

The 34-year-old , a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations childrens' organisation Unicef , is visiting the region with her boyfriend, Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique .

She visited two schools in the city, one of which is a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian school and educates children in Hebrew and Arabic in a bid to foster co-existence.

Shakira was greeted by cheering children who performed her song Waka Waka. She was seen joining in with the children, singing and dancing.

Later, she and Pique met Israeli President Shimon Peres .

Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Peres during the third annual Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, the singer said she had come to Israel to share some of her experience working in the field of education through her charity The Barefoot Foundation .

She said: "The most crucial decisions we can make for a better tomorrow concern how to raise and educate our children.

"I also have a lot of Barca T-shirts today, and it made me think to myself how wonderful it would be if the world would act like a team, like Barca does, you know.

"We have so many challenges ahead of us, so many problems to solve: global warming, illnesses, inequality around the world. This is the time to behave like a team, to wear the same T-shirt, to win the match of discrimination, to win the match of inequality and segregation."

The four-time-Grammy award winner attended another event in the evening, and reiterated the importance of educating children.