Shakira Pledges $1.25 Million to Rebuild Schools Damaged by Earthquake in Colombia
Shakira made a surprise visit yesterday to Quibdó, the capital of the Colombian province of Chocó, where nearly 200 schools have reported damage following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Aug. 10. During the visit, Shakira committed an initial $1.25 million to help rebuild 10 schools and a university via her charitable foundation.
The Colombian singer toured several damaged schools and met with children. She was accompanied by Howard Buffett, son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett and a longtime donor to Colombia who has helped Shakira set up schools there before.
The $1.25 million pledge brings together several partners: $500,000 from Shakira and Live Nation; $500,000 from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund; and $250,000 from CAF, the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The funds will be channeled through Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation), and will go toward rebuilding schools and getting children back into classrooms.
“What worries me the most is that schools are not rebuilt once this emergency is over,” Shakira told journalists (via ABC). “Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future.”
She added, “It’s a place I love, a place where I’ve seen our students grow in our classrooms. I really want to see it rebuilt again.”
Buffett said of his participation, “When she calls, I come.”
Shakira’s foundation has operated in Chocó for more than two decades and currently runs two schools in the region. She said she plans to dedicate her personal efforts to rebuilding a local technological university in the region.
"El compromiso es no soltarle la mano a los chocoanos hasta que cada uno de ellos pueda tener una vida normal, hasta que cada niño pueda volver a la escuela. Estamos muy conmovidos (…) Hay una deuda histórica con el Chocó (…) Voy a dedicar mis esfuerzos personales a… pic.twitter.com/Gu1mdGFdeS
Colombia was hit by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, where the epicenter was reportedly close to San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The effects of the natural disaster have been far-reaching, with reports of collapsed buildings, injuries, and deaths in the cities of Cali, Armenia, Manizales, Pereira, and Quibdó. The reported death toll is now in the hundreds.
Following the disaster, Shakira shared a message about the situation in a post on X. In Spanish, she wrote, “Beloved Colombia, my heart is with everyone who felt this earthquake today and with the families who are going through moments of anguish. In times like these, we Colombians know how to come together and support one another. All my strength and love for my homeland. Let’s embrace tightly and stay tuned to the instructions so we can help as soon as possible.”