Shakira Commits to Rebuilding Schools in Earthquake-Affected Area in Colombia

Colombian superstar Shakira pledged on Monday to help rebuild at least 10 schools in a remote western region of her home country devastated by a recent earthquake. The disaster claimed hundreds of lives last week. During a surprise visit to Quibdó, the capital of Colombia’s Chocó province, she toured damaged schools and met with students. Shakira, known internationally for hits like ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ expressed her concern about the long-term aftermath of the disaster.

Shakira emphasized the urgency of rebuilding efforts: ‘What worries me most is that, once the state of emergency passes, these schools remain unrebuilt, leaving many forgotten and in hardship,’ she told reporters. ‘Our children cannot return to school. There is no connectivity here, so remote schooling is not an option. Every day children miss school, it affects their future.’

She was joined by Howard Buffett, son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett, who has previously aided Shakira in establishing schools in Chocó. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will partner with Shakira’s Barefoot Foundation on this project.

‘I come whenever she calls,’ Buffett said of his visit. Shakira also announced contributions from Global Citizen and Live Nation, each pledging $500,000 to the cause.

The earthquake on August 10, which registered a magnitude of 7.4, struck a vast area in western Colombia. It resulted in at least 287 deaths and destroyed over 26,000 homes, according to officials. The government reported that 194 people remain missing, though other databases suggest over 4,100. The quake’s epicenter was in Chocó, one of Colombia’s poorest regions, where at least 3,100 homes were destroyed and more than 265 educational centers were affected, per the latest government report.

Shakira highlighted the historical neglect of the Chocó department: ‘Colombians owe a historical debt to Chocó. It has been left to its fate, making progress challenging here. But we know it’s possible,’ said Shakira, whose foundation has focused on education access in Colombia for 22 years, with two schools in Chocó graduating hundreds of students. ‘Investing in education is worthwhile.’

Relief groups have struggled to assess damages in the region, an area the size of Switzerland with limited communication. It has few roads connecting it to the rest of the country, relying mainly on river and unpaved road connections.

Most of Chocó’s 600,000 residents live in poverty, according to last year’s national government figures. The area is largely inhabited by indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

During her visit to a high school in Quibdó, Shakira said, ‘There aren’t enough words to console or magical solutions for the pain. But I know there is commitment, a concrete pledge to stand by Colombians who have lost their homes and children who have lost their schools. The commitment is to stay with Chocoanos until each resumes a normal life, and every child returns to school.’

The singer, known for ‘Whenever, Wherever,’ ‘La Tortura,’ and the FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem ‘Dai Dai,’ has long championed educational causes. She plans to focus her efforts on reconstructing a local technological university in Chocó.

At 49, Shakira draws attention for both her performances and causes. She led the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime show in July, two months after performing for nearly 2 million people at Copacabana Beach in Brazil.

Following dual earthquakes in Venezuela in June, Shakira announced a $500,000 commitment from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund for that nation’s educational recovery. Her announcement joins efforts from notable Colombians and Latin American artists to assist Colombia and Venezuela. Singers Marc Anthony and Chayanne participated in a Miami benefit concert with a live fundraiser for both countries.

During her three-show stint at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, Colombian singer Karol G committed to matching fans’ donations to her Con Cora Foundation. She will also join Maluma, Sebastián Yatra, and others in a benefit concert in Bogotá on Sunday.

The Colombian Football Federation and the South American Football Confederation committed $1 million to the first lady of Colombia Ana Lucía Pineda’s ‘Colombia, a Heart’ recovery fund last week.