Shakira Pledges to Rebuild Schools After Colombia Earthquake

Colombian superstar Shakira has pledged to help rebuild at least 10 schools and restore a local university in the country’s earthquake-hit Chocó region, saying children should not have to put their futures on hold because of the disaster.

The singer made the announcement Monday during a surprise visit to Quibdó, the capital of Chocó. She toured damaged schools, met students and took photos with them.

“What worries me the most is that schools are not rebuilt once this emergency is over,” Shakira told reporters. “Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future.”

Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos, or Barefoot Foundation, will work with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to rebuild 10 schools. Howard Buffett, the son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett, joined Shakira during her visit and has previously worked with her on education projects in Colombia.

“When she calls, I come,” Buffett said.

Shakira also said she would personally support the rebuilding of a technological university in Chocó. Additional financial support is coming from several organizations. The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and Live Nation have each pledged $500,000, while CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean has pledged $250,000.

The earthquake, which measured 7.4 magnitude, struck western Colombia on Aug. 10. Authorities say at least 287 people were killed and more than 26,000 homes were destroyed. The government has reported 194 people missing, although other civilian databases have listed a much higher number.

Chocó was at the center of the disaster. More than 3,100 homes were destroyed in the region, while over 265 educational sites were damaged, according to the latest report from the regional government.

For Shakira, the crisis is personal. Her foundation has worked in Chocó for 22 years and operates two schools there. Hundreds of students have graduated from those schools.

“It’s a place I love, a place where I’ve seen our students grow in our classrooms,” she said in a video shared by Colombian news outlet La FM. “I really want to see it rebuild again.”

The scale of the damage has made relief efforts difficult. Chocó is roughly the size of Switzerland, but has few roads connecting it with the rest of Colombia. Many communities can be reached only by river or unpaved roads, making it harder for aid groups to assess the full impact of the earthquake.

The region is also one of Colombia’s poorest. Around 600,000 people live in Chocó, with many residents belonging to Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

“There is not a way to alleviate the pain of so many, there are no magic solutions,” Shakira said while visiting a large high school in Quibdó. But she promised to remain involved until children can return to school and families can begin rebuilding their lives.

Shakira has long supported education in Colombia and other parts of Latin America. After twin earthquakes struck Venezuela in June, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund announced a $500,000 commitment to help restore education there.

Other Latin American artists are also supporting earthquake relief. Marc Anthony and Chayanne recently joined a Miami benefit concert for Colombia and Venezuela. Colombian singer Karol G has pledged to match donations to her Con Cora Foundation, while artists including Maluma and Sebastián Yatra are scheduled to take part in a benefit concert in Bogotá this Sunday.

For families in Chocó, the road to recovery will be long. But the rebuilding of schools could provide more than repaired buildings—it could give thousands of children a path back to education and a sense of normal life after the disaster.