Shakira pledges to build 10 new schools in Colombia

Sky News – Colombian singing star Shakira pledged on Monday to help build at least 10 new schools in a remote region of her country that was hit by a devastating earthquake last week, which killed hundreds and damaged thousands of educational facilities in western Colombia.

The star’s pledge came during an unexpected visit to Quibdó, the capital of Colombia’s Chocó department, where she inspected schools damaged by the quake, met with students, and took photos with them.

Shakira told reporters, “What worries me most is that schools will not be rebuilt once this emergency situation ends. Every day that children do not go to school is a day they lose opportunities for their future.”

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will collaborate with the “Fundación Pies Descalzos,” or Barefoot Foundation, on the project.

Around 27,000 homes were destroyed by the earthquake, and many of those affected have been forced to sleep outdoors.