By Tim Saunders on
French First Lady and singing star Carla Bruni was in Brazil last week to witness the poverty and hunger faced by millions.
Earlier this month Bruni became a “World Ambassador” for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and spent two days before Christmas visiting slums and hospitals in the South American nation.
Bruni’s itinery included a trip to the Pavao-Pavaozinho favela, a slum situated above Rio’s famed Copacabana beach, to visit Crianca Esperanca, an initiative that tries to lift children out of poverty. She also stopped by a hospital that houses a mothers’ milk bank, a facility that provides breast milk to over 140,000 malnourished newborns.
Bruni also attended a fashion show organized by Moda Fusion, an organization that promotes ethical fashion and showcases the creativity of women from Brazilian slums.
“The support of Carla Bruni and the French government will give greater importance to what we do in the favelas and ethical trade,” a spokeswoman told the Associated Press.
Bruni is expected to stay in Brazil until December 29.
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