Shakira Announces Education Support Plan After Devastating Colombia Earthquake

Following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, causing severe damage across parts of Chocó province, Shakira has announced a major education-focused recovery initiative.

The Colombian singer traveled to Quibdó, Chocó, to meet with local communities and outline plans to help rebuild educational infrastructure affected by the disaster.

Through her Pies Descalzos Foundation, Shakira plans to participate in the construction of 10 new schools, providing students with safer facilities as communities recover.

She also pledged support for the restoration of Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, one of the region’s important higher-education institutions.

Financial support is also being assembled for the recovery effort. Partners including Global Citizen and Live Nation have pledged a combined $1 million, while additional assistance from CAF brings the reported total commitments to approximately $1.25 million.

Shakira is additionally working with philanthropist Howard G. Buffett on broader reconstruction efforts in the earthquake-affected region.

The initiative places education at the center of the recovery, with the goal of helping children and young people return to learning while damaged communities rebuild.

For Shakira, the effort represents an extension of her long-standing work supporting education and children in Colombia through the Pies Descalzos Foundation.

Source: ABC11