Shakira announced a US$1 million [1] fund to help rebuild educational infrastructure in Colombia's Chocó department following a recent earthquake.
The commitment targets one of Colombia's most vulnerable regions, where the loss of schools and universities threatens the long-term stability and future of thousands of students.
The singer traveled to Quibdó, the capital of the Chocó department, on Monday to visit affected sectors and meet with residents. During her visit, she pledged to reconstruct one university [2] and build 10 new schools [2] to replace those destroyed or damaged by the seismic activity.
Shakira criticized the historical lack of investment in the region during her visit. "El Chocó ha estado abandonado," she said [6].
Beyond the immediate financial injection, the singer emphasized the urgency of returning children to the classroom to prevent permanent educational gaps. "No vamos a parar hasta que cada niño regrese a la escuela," she said [4].
The initiative focuses on the physical reconstruction of academic spaces, which often serve as community hubs in rural and marginalized areas of the Pacific coast. The funds are intended to accelerate the recovery process in a region that has struggled with infrastructure deficits long before the disaster.
Shakira said that she intends to remain involved in the recovery efforts. "Voy a dedicar mis esfuerzos a reconstruir el Chocó," she said [5].
“"No vamos a parar hasta que cada niño regrese a la escuela."”
The intervention by a global figure like Shakira brings international visibility to the Chocó department, a region historically marginalized by the central government. By focusing specifically on educational infrastructure—universities and primary schools—the initiative aims to mitigate the long-term social impact of the earthquake, as the loss of schooling in impoverished areas often leads to higher dropout rates and increased vulnerability to local instability.
