Shakira pledges aid for school reconstruction in earthquake-hit Colombia

Colombian pop singer Shakira visited the Chocó region on Monday, August 17, 2026, to pledge support for rebuilding schools following a catastrophic 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10. Accompanied by American philanthropist Howard Buffett, the artist highlighted the urgent need to address the destruction of over 2,800 educational facilities across the country, many of which are located in indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities within the Chocó province.

Shakira stated that her Pies Descalzos Foundation, which has been operating in the region for over two decades, will spearhead the initiative to restore school infrastructure. She expressed deep concern that once the initial state of emergency concludes, the long-term educational needs of displaced children might be overlooked. The singer emphasized that the primary goal is ensuring students can safely return to classrooms, warning that without intervention, thousands of children risk being left without educational opportunities due to the widespread damage caused by the seismic activity.