Colombian superstar Shakira pledged on Monday to help rebuild at least 10 schools in a remote area of her native country. This region in western Colombia suffered major damage from a devastating earthquake that claimed hundreds of lives last week. Known globally for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” Shakira made this promise during a surprise visit to Quibdó. The capital of Colombia’s Chocó province bore the brunt of the quake. There, Shakira toured damaged schools, hugged students, and posed for photos with them.
My main concern is that, after the emergency subsides, these schools might remain unrepaired. Many people may get forgotten and left behind,
Shakira told reporters. Our children can’t return to schools. There’s no connectivity here, so remote learning isn’t an option. Each day without school is a day they lose for their future,
she emphasized.
Shakira was joined by Howard Buffett, son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett. He has collaborated with her on establishing schools in Chocó before. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will partner with Shakira’s Barefoot Foundation in this project. I come whenever she calls,
Buffett expressed about his visit. In addition, Shakira announced that both Global Citizen and Live Nation pledged $500,000 each for the cause.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10 shook a vast section of western Colombia, killing at least 287 people and destroying over 26,000 homes, according to authorities. The government reported 194 people still missing, while more comprehensive databases estimate the number to be over 4,100. The quake’s epicenter was in Chocó, one of Colombia’s poorest regions, where 3,100 homes were destroyed, and more than 265 educational centers were damaged, according to the latest regional government report.
Shakira highlighted the longstanding neglect faced by Chocó, stating, Colombians have a historical debt. Chocó has been left to fend for itself. It’s been tough to progress here, but we know it’s possible.
Her foundation has focused on education access for youth in Colombia and has operated in Chocó for 22 years, with two schools from which hundreds have graduated. Investing in education is worthwhile,
she affirmed.
Relief groups struggle to assess the region’s damage; it spans an area the size of Switzerland with poor communication infrastructure. Chocó has limited roads connecting it to the rest of Colombia, with most places accessible only by rivers and unpaved paths. About 600,000 people live in poverty there, many belonging to indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
During her visit to a high school in Quibdó, Shakira declared, There are no words to comfort, no magic fixes for what we’re experiencing, this much pain. But I know there’s commitment, a concrete effort to support these Colombians who’ve lost homes, children without schools. We’re committed to staying with the Chocó people until they regain normalcy and their children return to school,
she assured.
Known for hits like “Whenever, Wherever,” “La Tortura,” and the FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem “Dai Dai,” Shakira has long advocated for education causes. She intends to focus her efforts on reconstructing a local technological university in Chocó.
The singer, who is 49, attracts immense attention not only for her performances but also for her charitable initiatives. She headlined the halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in July. Two months earlier, she performed for nearly two million people on Copacabana Beach in Brazil. After two nearly simultaneous earthquakes struck Venezuela in June, Shakira announced that Global Citizen’s Education Fund pledged $500,000 for educational recovery in the country.
Her announcement follows efforts by prominent Colombians and Latin American artists to assist Colombia and Venezuela. Singers Marc Anthony and Chayanne took part in a benefit concert in Miami alongside dozens of artists, raising funds live for both nations. During her three-concert series at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, Colombian singer Karol G committed to matching her fans’ donations to her Foundation Con Cora. She will join Maluma, Sebastián Yatra, and others in a benefit concert in Bogotá this Sunday. Last week, the Colombian Football Federation and the South American Football Confederation pledged $1 million to the “Colombia, a heart” recovery fund by Colombia’s First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda.
Associated Press receives support for nonprofit and philanthropy coverage through collaboration with The Conversation US and funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content. For all AP philanthropy coverage, visit the AP news hub.
This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the assistance of a generative AI tool.