'Starving, glue-sniffing' kids inspired Shakira towards charity

Shakira has said that seeing kids sniffing glue in her hometown inspired her to launch her Pies Descalzos Foundation, which has helped to build six schools in Colombia.

The 36-year-old singer launched her charity after starting to taste success in her late teens, Contactmusic reported.

She revealed that when she was eight, her father went bankrupt, which resulted in the family losing their air conditioner.

Shakira, who is in a realtionship with Spaish footballer Gerard Pique explained that it was crazy hot in Barranquilla, her hometown, where the temp is usually 95 degrees.

She asserted that when she complained, her parents took her to a local park where she saw orphans sniffing glue to kill their hunger.

Shakira said that event in her life made a lasting impression on her, and she promised herself that, once she achieved success, she would do something for the kids who apparently had no chance in life.