Colombian superstar Shakira has pledged an initial $1.25 million toward rebuilding schools and restoring educational infrastructure in her home country following a devastating earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10.
The singer made the commitment during a surprise visit to Quibdó, in the Chocó province, one of the regions hardest hit by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Shakira toured damaged schools, met with students and teachers, and spoke about the urgent need to get children back into classrooms.
The $1.25 million commitment is being provided through a partnership involving the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Live Nation and CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The contributions include $500,000 from FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, $500,000 from Live Nation and $250,000 from CAF.
Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation) will work alongside the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to help reconstruct 10 schools in Chocó and surrounding areas. Howard Buffett, who has previously worked with Shakira on education initiatives in Colombia, also joined her during the visit.
The earthquake caused widespread devastation across western Colombia, killing at least 287 people and destroying more than 26,000 homes, according to authorities. In Chocó, around 40 schools completely collapsed, while hundreds of other educational facilities were affected.
Beyond the schools, Shakira has committed her personal efforts to helping rebuild the Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó Diego Luis Córdoba, a major public university in the region. She highlighted the institution’s importance to students who have progressed through educational programs supported by her foundation.
Education has long been central to Shakira’s philanthropic work. Through Fundación Pies Descalzos, she has spent more than two decades supporting educational access for children and young people in underserved communities across Colombia, including operating schools in Chocó.
During her visit, Shakira also called on governments around the world including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Japan to contribute to Colombia’s recovery efforts.
The initiative comes as Colombia begins the enormous task of rebuilding communities affected by the earthquake. For Shakira, however, restoring schools is about more than repairing buildings—it is about ensuring children can return to education and continue building their futures.
“Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future,” Shakira said during the visit.
With her foundation and international partners now mobilizing resources, Shakira is turning her long-standing commitment to education into direct action at a critical moment for her homeland.
