Colombian singer Shakira and Howard Graham Buffett, son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, have announced a joint initiative to rebuild educational infrastructure in the department of Chocó, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake that struck Colombia on 10 August. The announcement came during a visit to Quibdó, the departmental capital, where the pair met local officials and surveyed the damage.
The earthquake, which had its epicentre near San José del Palmar, has so far claimed 287 lives, injured 4,147 people, and left 194 missing, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). The quake also damaged the Technological University of Chocó and around ten other educational centres in the region, which is among the poorest in Colombia.
Funding through established partners
Shakira's contribution will not be a direct donation. Instead, the philanthropic organisation Global Citizen will provide $500,000 (€432,250), and concert promoter Live Nation – which organised her recent tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran and is her commercial partner – will add another $500,000 at her request. The total of $1 million will be channelled through the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a charity Shakira founded in 1997 that has built several schools across Colombia.
Howard Graham Buffett, who has overseen Pies Descalzos for two decades, will lead the construction of ten new schools in Chocó. Buffett, a Colombian-American philanthropist, obtained Colombian citizenship in 2021 after investing more than $160 million in projects in the Catatumbo region, including road rebuilding, crop substitution, and demining efforts. “Howard is going to help us, through the Pies Descalzos Foundation, to build ten new schools in Chocó; that's why it was so important to bring him, that's why it was so important to come today,” Shakira told reporters in Quibdó.
The initiative comes amid Shakira's growing involvement in global education philanthropy. In October 2025, she joined the advisory board of the education fund run by FIFA and Global Citizen, alongside Serena Williams, The Weeknd, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. She has also committed 100% of the royalties from the official song of the 2026 World Cup, Dai Dai, to that fund. Her participation in the tournament's final half-time show was recently confirmed, a first for the event.
The rebuilding effort in Chocó is part of a broader conversation about education infrastructure in the wake of natural disasters. Across Europe, schools are also grappling with climate-related challenges, as heatwaves push schools to rethink summer breaks and adapt to extreme weather. While the contexts differ, the need for resilient educational facilities is a shared concern.
Shakira's decision to work through established organisations rather than direct donations reflects a growing trend among high-profile philanthropists to ensure accountability and long-term impact. The Pies Descalzos Foundation has a track record in Colombia, having built schools in areas affected by conflict and poverty. The new project in Chocó will focus on both university-level and primary/secondary education, aiming to restore normalcy for thousands of students whose schooling was disrupted by the earthquake.
The announcement has been welcomed by local authorities, who have struggled to meet the educational needs of the region. Chocó, despite its rich natural resources, has long been marginalised, with high poverty rates and limited public services. The rebuilding of schools is seen as a crucial step towards recovery and long-term development.
Buffett's involvement adds a layer of business and philanthropic expertise. His father, Warren Buffett, is one of the world's wealthiest individuals, with stakes in companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express. Howard Graham Buffett has focused his own philanthropy on food security, conflict resolution, and conservation, but his work in Colombia has been particularly notable for its scale and local engagement.
As the region begins to recover, the collaboration between Shakira, Buffett, Global Citizen, and Live Nation offers a model for how celebrity influence and corporate partnerships can be mobilised for disaster relief. The first new schools are expected to break ground within the coming months, with construction overseen by the Pies Descalzos Foundation and local contractors.
For Shakira, the project is deeply personal. Born in Barranquilla, she has long used her platform to advocate for education in Latin America. “Education is the most powerful tool we have to transform lives,” she said during the visit. “These children deserve a future, and we are going to give them the schools they need to build it.”
