The Colombian superstar traveled Monday (Aug. 17) to Quibdó, the capital of the province of Chocó, where nearly 200 schools have reported damage following the 7.
4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Aug. 10, killing hundreds of people. She toured damaged classrooms, meeting students and educators, and met with Chocó’s governor, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, and Quibdó’s mayor, Rafael Bolaños, to hear about the region’s needs.
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Philanthropist Howard Buffett, who accompanied Shakira on the visit and has partnered with her on education projects in Colombia before, announced that his foundation would separately support the reconstruction of 10 additional schools in Chocó.
Shakira framed the effort around the long-term stakes for the region’s children.
Chocó is one of Colombia’s poorest and most isolated regions — an area roughly the size of Switzerland where towns are connected largely by rivers and unpaved roads, complicating relief efforts.
Shakira’s pledge is among a wave of commitments from Latin American artists following the disaster. Over the weekend, Marc Anthony and Chayanne joined dozens of artists at a Miami benefit concert for earthquake relief in Colombia and Venezuela, while Karol G pledged to match fan donations to her Con Cora Foundation during a three-night run at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
One of the most successful Latin artists in history, Shakira has long paired her career with philanthropy in her home country. She scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.
1 with 2006’s “Hips Don’t Lie” featuring Wyclef Jean, one of the best-selling singles of the century, and holds the record for the most Latin Airplay No. 1s of any woman, with 21.
She headlined the halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in July and was named Billboard’s inaugural Latin Woman of the Year in 2023. She founded Fundación Pies Descalzos in 1997 to expand educational access for children in Colombia.
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Informação baseada em material público de Billboard, reescrito pela redação ULTRA NOTÍCIAS.
