Shakira Visits Colombia, Pledges $1.25mn to Rebuild Schools

August 19, 2026 | 12:18 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Colombian pop star Shakira made an unannounced visit to Quibdó, the capital of Chocó province, on Monday, August 17, 2026, pledging US$1.25 million to reconstruct educational facilities damaged by a recent earthquake.

According to reports from Billboard, the magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, killing at least 287 people, destroying over 26,000 homes, and impacting hundreds of schools across the country.

Chocó, the epicenter of the quake, remains one of Colombia's poorest and most geographically isolated provinces, where logistics are hampered by river networks and unpaved roads.

During her visit, the singer toured affected classrooms, met with students, and conferred with local leaders, including Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba and Quibdó Mayor Rafael Bolaños.

"What worries me the most is that schools are not rebuilt once this emergency is over," Shakira told journalists, as quoted by the New York Post. "Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future."

As reported by Billboard, the initial US$1.25 million recovery package includes US$500,000 provided jointly by Shakira and Live Nation, US$500,000 from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, and US$250,000 from the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The funds will be managed through her foundation, Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation), which has operated educational initiatives in Chocó for over two decades.

The Female Quotient reported that philanthropist Howard Buffett accompanied the singer on the trip. His organization, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, announced a separate commitment to reconstruct 10 additional schools in the province. "When she calls, I come," Buffett said during the site visit, as cited by the New York Post.

In addition to the school rebuilding program, Shakira stated that she intends to focus personal efforts on restoring Quibdó’s damaged technological university, according to Billboard.

"There is not a way to alleviate the pain of so many, there are no magic solutions," Shakira said during an address at a Quibdó high school. "But what there is, is commitment to be here alongside those from Chocó, to not abandon El Chocó like it historically has been abandoned, until every Colombian and every person from Chocó can return to their normal lives like they deserve."

Shakira's initiative forms part of a broader mobilization by Latin American musicians to assist disaster relief in the region. Billboard reported that Latin artists including Marc Anthony, Chayanne, and Karol G have also launched benefit concerts and donation-matching campaigns to support ongoing recovery efforts across Colombia and Venezuela.

Read: Colombia Earthquake Losses Estimated at US$9.5bn

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