In 1997, when Shakira was just 18 years old, she started a school-building mission. Nearly 30 years later, 300 schools educate thousands in Columbia

Long before Shakira became a global music star, she had a mission that was much bigger than the stage. The Colombian singer founded a charity at the age of 18 in 1997 to help children in poor communities receive an education. That early commitment has become a national effort, nearly 30 years later, supporting more than 300 public schools and reaching hundreds of thousands of children and young people. The project is Fundación Pies Descalzos, or the Barefoot Foundation, part of Shakira's life and with her even as she found international fame, driven by her conviction that education can help children escape the cycle of poverty and build a better future for themselves.

Why Shakira began building schools in Colombia at 18

Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation in 1997 after finding initial success in the music business. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, she grew up aware of the inequalities affecting children in her home country, including limited access to education and resources. The foundation initially focused on helping vulnerable children, particularly those affected by poverty and displacement. Its approach gradually expanded beyond school construction to include nutrition, educational support and work with families and teachers.

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In a 2018 interview reported by Reuters, Shakira explained why education mattered so deeply to her. “When some children don't receive the same education as those who live in better conditions, we can't talk about a country in peace, we can't talk about a country with equality, because education is what equalises us,” she said. The statement captured the thinking behind her work: education is not simply about getting children into classrooms, but also about giving them a fairer chance in life.

How Shakira’s Foundation Grew To Support More Than 300 Schools

The scale of the foundation’s work has changed significantly since its early years. According to its official website, Pies Descalzos has benefited more than 282,160 children and young people, trained over 13,387 teachers and supported more than 300 public schools across Colombia.

An important distinction is that the foundation has not built all 300 schools from the ground up. Its work includes supporting existing public schools, improving educational facilities and developing programmes designed to help children remain in education. The foundation reports that it has built or intervened in 22 schools in Colombia, alongside two in Haiti and one in Soweto, South Africa.

One example is the Pies Descalzos school in Cartagena, which opened in 2014 and was designed to serve around 1,700 students. The foundation has also worked in communities including Barranquilla, Quibdó and La Guajira, where access to quality education can be particularly challenging. Its wider model involves working with teachers, families and local educational communities rather than relying on buildings alone.

Why Education Remains At The Centre Of Shakira’s Philanthropy

Shakira’s commitment to children’s education has also extended beyond her own foundation. UNICEF appointed her a Goodwill Ambassador in 2003, recognising her advocacy for early childhood development and children’s rights. UNICEF describes her as a “devoted advocate for early childhood education”. In that role, she has helped raise awareness of the needs of vulnerable children and supported wider efforts to improve opportunities for young people.

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In 2019, Pies Descalzos partnered with Education Above All’s Educate A Child programme in an initiative intended to help 54,000 Colombian children access education or remain in school. The project targeted children who were out of the school system and primary pupils at risk of dropping out. Such partnerships have allowed the foundation to expand its reach beyond the schools it directly constructs or supports.

Shakira’s School-Building Quest Still Going 28 Years Later

Educational inequalities are still present in Colombia, and the work of the foundation continues. In August 2026, Shakira visited communities affected by a devastating earthquake in the country’s Chocó region and announced plans to help rebuild damaged educational facilities. The Associated Press reported that her foundation would work with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to rebuild 10 schools. The announcement showed that her educational mission remains active, adapting to communities’ changing needs and emergencies.

Nearly 30 years after launching Pies Descalzos as a teenager, Shakira’s legacy is not measured only in albums sold or stadiums filled. It can also be seen in classrooms, trained teachers and children given opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach. For the singer, the long-term goal remains clear: ensuring that where a child is born does not determine how far they can go.