Shakira met with President Obama and Vice President Biden at the White House on Monday (February 22) to discuss their shared interest in early childhood development and universal education.

“It was such a privilege to sit down with the President in the Oval Office to discuss our shared commitment to education and early childhood development,” the singer said in a story posted at her official web site. “We agreed that investing in our children is the smartest strategy governments can use to boost economic growth, fight poverty, and promote global security and peace. We will be working closely with the President and his staff to implement his vision—for Latinos, children in the United States, and around the world.”

“I briefed the President on the progress made this year through ALAS with the heads of state of Latin American governments, and explained that we have made early childhood development a central topic of discussion during the next Ibero-American Summit to take place in Argentina later this year.”

Shakira sent out the following message earlier today in reaction to Tuesday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti:

The destruction and loss of life in Haiti causes us all to take stock in what is really important. This small country has endured so much – more than its fair share of tragedy. I can’t imagine the devastation that has struck an already weakened infrastructure. Critical services needed for recovery, such as schools and hospitals, have been destroyed.

The people of Haiti need our help immediately. Money will be needed to provide urgent emergency relief and I urge everyone who can afford to help to either donate to UNICEF’s emergency relief fund at www.unicef.org or text the word YELE to 501501 on your U.S. cell phone (this will charge your phone $5 – it will go to Wyclef Jean’s foundation which is playing a major role in the relief effort. For more information, see www.yele.org).

We must all act. As a global community, we must be part of the recovery of Haiti and its people.

Thank you.

Shakira