Colombian singer Shakira visited the quake-hit department of Chocó on Monday to pledge $1 million [2] for rebuilding damaged schools.
The surprise visit highlights the critical need for infrastructure recovery in one of Colombia's most vulnerable regions following a deadly natural disaster.
Shakira traveled to the city of Quibdó more than a week after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake [1] struck the area. The disaster caused widespread destruction of public buildings and displaced numerous families, creating an emerging humanitarian crisis [1].
During the visit, the artist committed to rebuilding 10 schools [3] that were damaged by the tremors. While some reports indicate the commitment is for at least 10 schools [3], the initial monetary contribution is cited as $1 million [2]. Other reports have listed the pledge as KSh 161 million [4].
The pop star visited damaged classrooms to meet with students and local officials. The effort focuses on restoring education services in the Chocó region, where the earthquake devastated school facilities and disrupted learning for thousands of children [1].
This initiative follows a pattern of philanthropic work by the artist in her home country. By focusing on the city of Quibdó, the funding aims to address the immediate gaps in the government's disaster response, specifically regarding the restoration of safe learning environments for displaced youth [1].
“Shakira visited the quake-hit department of Chocó on Monday to pledge $1 million for rebuilding damaged schools.”
The pledge underscores the role of high-profile celebrity philanthropy in filling immediate infrastructure gaps following natural disasters in marginalized regions. In the Chocó department, where state resources are often limited, private funding for the reconstruction of 10 schools provides a critical shortcut to restoring educational stability for children affected by the 7.4-magnitude quake.
