Shakira pledged an initial $1.25 million [1] to rebuild schools damaged by a recent earthquake in Colombia’s Chocó region.
The commitment aims to restore educational access for children in one of Colombia's most vulnerable regions following a major natural disaster. With nearly 200 schools reporting damage [4], the funding provides an immediate catalyst for reconstruction in isolated communities.
On Monday, the singer visited Quibdó, the capital city of the Chocó province, to announce the initiative [2, 3]. The pledge is a joint effort involving the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Live Nation, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) [1, 3].
“I’m honored to be here in Chocó and to help put this region on the world’s radar,” Shakira said. “Together we can rebuild the schools that our children need to learn and thrive” [1].
The funding follows a magnitude 7.4 earthquake [2] that struck the region on Aug. 10, 2026 [2]. While the total number of damaged facilities is high, the current pledge focuses on rebuilding a minimum of 10 schools [5].
Local officials said the partnership ensures the funds reach the most affected areas. Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi, Governor of Chocó, said the collaboration with Global Citizen, Live Nation, and CAF will ensure the money is directed straight to the communities that need it most [1].
Mayor of Quibdó Rafael Bolanos said the commitment will jump-start the reconstruction of the schools that were devastated by the quake [2].
“Together we can rebuild the schools that our children need to learn and thrive.”
This initiative leverages celebrity influence to draw international attention to the Chocó region, which often struggles with infrastructure investment. By partnering with global entities like Live Nation and the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the project creates a scalable model for disaster recovery that combines private philanthropy with regional government administration.
