Colombian singer Shakira visited Quibdó, in the Chocó department, following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, and pledged to help rebuild 10 schools and a university in the region.
During her visit, Shakira announced an investment of $1 million for reconstruction efforts and called on Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, private companies and other foundations to contribute to the recovery of Chocó, one of Colombia’s poorest regions.
“Every day that children don’t go to school is a day we pause their future, and we cannot allow that,” the singer said.
According to local government figures cited by BBC, 29 of Chocó’s 31 municipalities were affected, with 13 deaths, more than 45,000 people affected, over 1,000 homes destroyed and another 8,000 damaged.
Shakira also described Chocó as a region that has been “abandoned to its fate” and said Colombia has a “historic debt” to its communities.
