Shakira announces mega educational project in Catatumbo: 'Education transforms lives'

The singer from Barranquilla and the Colombian territory affected by violence have been topics that have captured the attention of Colombians during the beginning of 2025. Now, it is Shakira who is betting on an initiative that seeks to transform the reality of the minors who live in the region.

Clashes between the ELN and dissidents of the FARC have historically hit this area. In recent months, the situation has displaced around 50,000 people, and according to the Government of Norte de Santander, has left more than 70 dead, including four children.

The Pies Descalzos Foundation is a human rights organization founded in 1997 by the artist to help poor children and victims of the conflict. Through it, Shakira will create a school in Tibú, Norte de Santander, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the philanthropist Howard G. Buffett.

This organization has built and intervened in more than 19 educational centers in different areas of the country, including coastal regions such as La Guajira, Barranquilla and Cartagena. It also has institutions in Soacha and Quibdó.

In fact, four thousand of the children benefited by this foundation were invited to the opening concert in their hometown, Barranquilla. Shakira set up a special seat for the children of these schools and paid tribute to them.

For the world star , “education changes lives,” which is why she is joining this effort to demonstrate the positive impact that is intended to be generated in the path of these children who have been vulnerable.

Through her social media, the singer shared the news of the mega project along with some previews of what the design of the new educational institution would be like and stated that it will be ready in the next few months.

The post has accumulated multiple comments of gratitude and admiration towards the Barranquilla native. Among these are the words of people in the entertainment world such as Melissa Martínez who describes her as “a true heroine”. In addition, she added that her altruism is a gift for all Colombians.

This initiative, led by important figures, government agencies such as the Ministry of Education and other allies, joins the efforts to offer a transformative path to the children of Catatumbo and shows that, as Shakira says, promoting education can be the path to change.