Shakira is stepping up for her home country following the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia earlier this month.
The Colombian superstar made a surprise visit to Quibdó in the hard-hit Chocó region on Aug. 17, one week after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia. During her visit, Shakira toured damaged schools, spent time with students and teachers and met with local officials as communities continue to recover.
According to ABC News and The Associated Press, the earthquake killed at least 287 people, destroyed thousands of homes and left hundreds of educational sites damaged in Chocó.
Shakira’s visit also came with a major commitment. The singer, along with Live Nation, Global Citizen and CAF, pledged an initial $1.25 million toward rebuilding schools and helping children return to the classroom.
The money will be distributed through Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos, also known as the Barefoot Foundation, which she founded in 1997 to expand access to education for children in Colombia.
Shakira’s Connection to Chocó Goes Back More Than 20 Years
For Shakira, helping rebuild Chocó is personal. Her foundation has worked in the region for more than two decades and currently operates two schools there.
During her visit, the 49-year-old singer walked through damaged classrooms, hugged students and took photos with members of the community. She also spoke about her concern for what happens after the initial attention surrounding the disaster begins to fade.
“What worries me the most is that schools are not rebuilt once this emergency is over,” Shakira told journalists, according to Billboard. “Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future.”
Philanthropist Howard Buffett, who has previously partnered with Shakira on education projects in Colombia, joined her on the trip. His Howard G. Buffett Foundation is also supporting efforts to rebuild schools in Chocó. Shakira said she plans to personally focus some of her efforts on rebuilding a local technological university.
Her visit follows the message she shared immediately after the earthquake. According to Rolling Stone, Shakira sent her “strength and love” to Colombia and encouraged people to come together and support those affected.
She isn’t the only Colombian artist helping. J Balvin, Maluma and Karol G were among the stars who used their platforms to share relief efforts and donation resources in the days following the disaster.
Shakira’s Homecoming Follows a Major Year in Music
The humanitarian effort comes after what had already been a milestone year for Shakira.
Just last month, she took one of the world’s biggest stages when she headlined the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show alongside Burna Boy in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two performed their official World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” which has continued its success well beyond the tournament.
According to Billboard, “Dai Dai” remains No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts nearly a month after the World Cup final, giving Shakira another global hit in a career spanning decades.
She also performed before an estimated 2 million people at Brazil’s Copacabana Beach in May, according to ABC News and the AP.
But following a year filled with major performances and chart success, Shakira’s latest focus is back home in Colombia, where she is using her longtime foundation to help communities rebuild.
“It’s a place I love, a place where I’ve seen our students grow in our classrooms,” Shakira said of Chocó. “I really want to see it rebuild again.”
