Shakira Visits Quibdó, Pledges Reconstruction of 10 Schools After Earthquake

Colombian superstar Shakira made a surprise visit to Quibdó, the capital of the Chocó department, a region severely impacted by a recent 7.4 magnitude earthquake that claimed 287 lives and injured nearly 4,000 people. Her visit came just one week after the devastating tremor.

During her trip, Shakira committed to personally overseeing the reconstruction of ten schools in the area, a cause championed by her Pies Descalzos Foundation. "There are no magic solutions for what is happening, for so much pain, but there is a concrete commitment to be by the side of all these Colombians," she stated.

Shakira expressed deep concern about the long-term impact of the earthquake on children's education. "What worries me most is that after the state of emergency passes, all these schools remain unreconstructed and so many people are forgotten and affected. That our children cannot return to school," she told reporters, emphasizing that remote learning is not an option in areas lacking connectivity.

Her philanthropic efforts in Chocó are not new; she has supported the region for 22 years, building two schools where 400 students have graduated, with 70 percent going on to higher education. This time, she is collaborating with businessman Howard Buffett and his Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Shakira also announced additional donations of $500,000 from Global Citizen and Live Nation. Chocó, home to 600,000 inhabitants, reported over 3,100 destroyed homes and more than 265 damaged educational establishments following the August 10 earthquake.