Christina Aguilera Connects with Her Family History During Ecuador Humanitarian Trip: 'It is a Part of My Blood & Heritage'

Christina Aguilera recently went on a humanitarian trip to Ecuador as the volunteer global spokesperson for Yum! Brands' World Hunger Relief program. The trip holds significance for the singer because her father is born in the South American nation.

"This particular trip was sort of extra-special for me because it is my blood and heritage," said Aguilera, 34, as reported by People. "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 struggling."

Aguilera has been a World Hunger Relief spokesperson since 2009 and has paid a visit to Guatemala, Rwanda, and Haiti for humanitarian efforts, People added. According to the recording artist, the Ecuador trip this year was in Yum! Brands list and she got to go in the fields and meet women and children in dire need of resources.

"I definitely had always wanted to go visit where my dad comes from, the culture, you know, not having sort of a consistent relationship at all in my life with him and not really knowing him as I've gotten older through the years as well . . . But, you know, it is a part of my blood and a part of my heritage and a part of my people," the "Beautiful" singer explained, as quoted by People.

She continued, "And I would look at the faces and I would sort of ... sometimes feel like I saw a resemblance. I think it's important and I think it's good to know where you come from and sort of get to know your roots."

Aguilera added that she felt connected with Ecuador and it was a privilege for her to be able to give back to its people, Billboard reported. In her trip, she visited schools and gave lunch to children who travel for 45 minutes to get education. Aguilera said that these "well-mannered, sweet-natured" kids' daily experiences made her want to tell her own two children, Max, 7, and Summer Rain, 13 months, how lucky they are.

The judge of talent show "The Voice" also filmed a public service announcement (PSA), which will be unveiled next month and will raise hunger awareness, Billboard added. Yum! Brands Inc., the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, said that eight years of the World Hunger Relief initiative raised $600 million in cash and food for the United Nations' World Food Programme and other humanitarian organizations.

Head here for more info about Yum! Brands' World Hunger Relief initiative.