Colombian music icon Shakira has pledged an initial $1.25 million to help rebuild schools damaged by the earthquake that struck her home country, announcing the commitment during a surprise visit to one of the worst-affected regions.
The singer arrived unannounced on Sunday to meet with students, teachers and families in the mountainous department of Santander, where several schools were partially or completely destroyed in last week’s 6.8-magnitude quake.
Standing in the courtyard of a damaged primary school in Piedecuesta, Shakira told local media that she could not stay silent while children lost access to classrooms.
“I grew up in schools like this,” she said. “Education is what saved me, and it is what will save this community. Today I am committing $1.25 million to start rebuilding, and I will work with my foundation to make sure these schools are stronger and safer than before.
The earthquake struck central Colombia early last Tuesday, killing at least 42 people and injuring more than 300, according to the National Disaster Risk Management Unit. While Bogotá and Medellín reported only minor damage, rural areas in Santander, Boyacá and Cundinamarca bore the brunt.
More than 120 schools sustained structural damage, with 23 deemed unsafe for students to return. In Piedecuesta and nearby Floridablanca, cracked walls, collapsed roofs and landslides have forced thousands of children into temporary learning spaces set up in community halls and churches.
The government has declared a state of emergency and allocated initial relief funds, but local officials say reconstruction will take months and require significant private support.
That is where Shakira’s pledge comes in. The $1.25 million will be channeled through her Barefoot Foundation, Fundación Pies Descalzos, which has built and operated schools in Colombia for more than 25 years.
For Shakira, this is not a one-time gesture. The Barefoot Foundation was founded in 1997 when she was 18, after seeing children displaced by violence in her hometown of Barranquilla. Since then it has built 9 schools across Colombia, providing education, meals and psychosocial support to more than 10,000 students.
The foundation focuses on public schools in vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on early childhood education, nutrition, and teacher training. Its flagship schools in Barranquilla and Cartagena serve as models for integrating arts, sports and technology into the curriculum.
“This earthquake has reminded us how fragile infrastructure can be, but also how resilient communities are,” Shakira said during her visit. “My commitment is that every child we help gets back to a classroom that is not just rebuilt, but reimagined
Foundation officials said the initial funds will go toward emergency repairs, temporary classrooms, school supplies, and structural assessments. A second phase will focus on earthquake-resistant rebuilding, with support from engineers and architects who specialize in disaster-resilient designer
Shakira spent several hours in Piedecuesta, touring classrooms with collapsed ceilings and speaking privately with families who lost homes. She also met with teachers who have been holding lessons under tarps.
One teacher, Ana Lucía Rojas, said students had been afraid to return even to undamaged buildings. “They hear a sound and they run,” she told Shakira. “We need safe spaces again.”
The singer responded by hugging students and promising that construction would begin within weeks. She did not take questions from the press and left without a security motorcade, traveling instead with a small team from her foundation.
Local mayor Carlos Hernández called the donation “a light in a very dark moment.” He added that Shakira’s presence had lifted morale. “When she walks in and says ‘we will rebuild with you,’ people believe it.
Colombia sits on several seismic faults, and experts warn that rural schools are particularly vulnerable because many were built decades ago without modern codes. The Ministry of Education estimates it will cost upwards of $40 million to fully repair and retrofit all damaged schools nationwide.
Shakira’s donation won’t cover all of that, but it provides immediate relief and sets a precedent for other private donors and corporations to step in. Her team said they are already in talks with Colombian companies and international NGOs to create a matching fund.
The Barefoot Foundation will also launch a public campaign this week asking Colombians abroad to contribute. “This is about more than bricks,” a foundation spokesperson said. “It’s about making sure a disaster doesn’t steal a year of learning from these kids
The timing of the pledge comes as Shakira is in the middle of planning her next world tour. But she has consistently used her platform for social causes in Colombia, from early childhood development to advocating for girls’ education.
She has not performed in Colombia since 2018, but she said she would return later this year for a benefit concert, with proceeds also going to reconstruction.
“I’ve sung for millions of people,” she said in Piedecuesta. “But the most important audience I have is right here — the kids who deserve a desk, a teacher, and a roof that won’t fall down.”
As recovery efforts continue, government officials say they hope Shakira’s involvement will draw more attention to rural infrastructure needs. For the students in Santander, the promise of new classrooms means they won’t have to wait long to get back to learning.
Rebuilding will take time. But with $1.25 million committed and work set to begin immediately, Shakira’s pledge offers a concrete first step toward restoring normalcy in communities shaken by both the earthquake and the uncertainty that followed.
