Colombian singer Shakira and philanthropist Howard Buffett have pledged financial support to rebuild schools damaged by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake [1].
The partnership aims to restore critical education infrastructure in the Chocó region, where the disaster disrupted learning for thousands of students. By targeting school reconstruction, the initiative seeks to stabilize the community's long-term recovery and ensure children return to classrooms.
The efforts are centered in the city of Quibdó [2]. The earthquake, which struck last week, caused significant damage to public buildings across the region [1]. Shakira visited the affected areas to assess the needs of the community.
"All of Colombia shares the pain of the people of Chocó," Shakira said [3].
Financial commitments for the project vary by report. Shakira said she is committing $1 million to support the reconstruction [4]. However, other reports indicate the pledge is $1.25 million [5]. The partnership has committed to rebuilding at least 10 schools [6].
Howard Buffett, the son of investor Warren Buffett, is joining the effort to provide the necessary resources and oversight for the construction. The collaboration combines celebrity influence with philanthropic capital to accelerate the pace of rebuilding in one of Colombia's most vulnerable regions.
The reconstruction will focus on creating safer, more resilient structures to protect students from future seismic events. This effort is part of a broader push to provide aid to the Chocó region, which often faces systemic infrastructure challenges beyond natural disasters.
“"I am committing $1 million to support the reconstruction of schools in Chocó."”
This collaboration highlights a trend of high-profile philanthropic partnerships targeting specific infrastructure failures in the Global South. By focusing on schools rather than general aid, the initiative addresses the immediate risk of educational loss following a disaster, which can have lifelong economic impacts on a region's youth.
