Shakira and Howard Buffett Announce Investment for Chocó Reconstruction

Colombian singer Shakira, on August 18, 2026, pledged to assist in the reconstruction of ten schools and a university in the department of Chocó, one of Colombia's poorest regions. The initiative follows the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on August 10, 2026, with Chocó as its epicenter.

Investment and Appeal to the International Community

The performer of “Waka Waka” and “Ciega, Sordomuda” made a surprise visit to Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, accompanied by Howard Buffett, son of billionaire Warren Buffett. On the occasion, a one-million-dollar investment for reconstruction efforts was announced. Shakira also appealed to the governments of Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, as well as the private sector and other foundations, to join the recovery efforts in Chocó.

The “Historical Debt” to Chocó

The singer emphasized that Colombia has a “historical debt” to Chocó. According to her, “the department of Chocó has been abandoned to its fate, and it has been very difficult to take steps towards progress.” The visit, Shakira stated, also aimed to maintain media attention on the region's situation, expressing concern that, after the state of emergency, many people might be forgotten, and children unable to return to school. She announced that she would dedicate her personal efforts to the reconstruction of the Technological University of Chocó, and Howard Buffett would assist, through the Pies Descalzos Foundation, in the construction of the ten new schools.

Impact of the Earthquake and Poverty Conditions

The earthquake of August 10, 2026, caused significant damage. According to the latest local government report, 29 of Chocó's 31 municipalities were affected, resulting in 13 fatalities, over 45,000 displaced, more than 1,000 homes destroyed, and another 8,000 damaged. Across Colombia, the earthquake claimed at least 287 lives and destroyed over 26,000 homes. Authorities indicated that 194 people remain missing, although other sources point to over 4,100 missing.

In addition to the earthquake damage, most of Chocó's 600,000 inhabitants live in poverty. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) show that 62 out of every 100 residents of Quibdó live below the poverty line, and 33 out of every 100 in extreme poverty.

Education and the Challenges of Virtual Modality

The earthquake of August 10, 2026, resulted in the destruction of dozens of schools in Chocó, Risaralda, Caldas, Quindío, and Valle del Cauca. In response, President Abelardo De la Espriella announced that a shock plan with virtual education, similar to the pandemic period, would be implemented while infrastructure is recovered. However, there are doubts about the effectiveness of this initiative in regions like Chocó.

John Freddy Ibarbom, a community leader, expressed concern to the Efe news agency. He stated that, in the local context, implementation is difficult due to signal coverage, as the region is rural and hard to access. Furthermore, many families do not own equipment such as computers or cell phones, which prevents children from participating in the virtual education strategy.

With information from BBC Mundo.