Page 29 - atoday sept 30

PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Aguilera connects with roots on Ecuador hunger relief trip
MESFIN FEKADU
AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Chris-
tina Aguilera has visited
Haiti, Rwanda and Guate-
mala on relief effort trips,
but last week in Ecuador
she not only offered sup-
port to struggling and hun-
gry children — she also
connected with her roots.
Aguilera’s father is from
Ecuador. The trip marked
the first time the 34-year-
old singer, who was born
in New York, had visited
the country.
“This particular trip was sort She has visited Rwanda,
of extra-special for me be-
cause it is my blood and
heritage. My father was
born in Ecuador and my
grandfather was born in
Quito, which is the city I
stayed in. And we would
drive out in the fields
which were hours away by
car and into the farmland
and sort of refugee areas
where people are strug-
gling,” Aguilera said in an
interview with The Associ-
ated Press on Monday.
“This was a really interest-
ing and raw way to go
about it. It wasn’t like I va-
cationed there in one of
the more beautiful spots
such as Galapagos Islands
or things like that. I went
into the fields and got to
meet the women and chil-
dren there who are really
trying to survive,” she said.
Aguilera has been a vol-
unteer global spokesper-
son for Yum! Brands’ World
Hunger Relief since 2009.
Haiti and Guatemala.
She chose to visit Ecuador
this year from a list provid-
ed to her, Aguilera said.
“I definitely had always
wanted to go visit where
my dad comes from, the
culture, you know, not
having sort of a consis-
tent relationship at all in
my life with him and not
really knowing him as I’ve
gotten older through the
Wednesday 30 September
In this April 23, 2015 file photo, Christina Aguilera arrives at vice announcement to
Season 8 of “The Voice” Red Carpet Event in West Hollywood, raise hunger awareness
Calif. that will be released next
month. Yum! Brands Inc.,
Associated Press the parent company of
Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and
years as well. You know, important and I think it’s KFC, said its eight-year-old
there’s a history there. good to know where you World Hunger Relief initia-
But, you know, it is a part come from and sort of get tive has raised $600 mil-
of my blood and a part to know your roots.” lion in cash and food for
of my heritage and a part Aguilera said “it felt that the United Nations’ World
of my people,” she said. much better to me that I Food Programme and
“And I would look at the was in a place that I felt other organizations.
faces and I would sort of so connected to and was Her trip included visiting
... sometimes feel like I saw able to give back to.” schools and providing
a resemblance. I think it’s She’s filmed a public ser- lunch for children who
have to travel far to get
to school. “It takes these
kids 45 minutes walking by
themselves, alone, up a
hill,” she said.
“It’s really hard for these
kids and I couldn’t wait to
come back and tell my
own kids these stories to
... better appreciate what
they have,” the mother
of two said. “These kids,
they just were the most
well-mannered, sweet-na-
tured, little kids.”q