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Shakira's foundation helps 224,000 children, builds schools and boosts higher education

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Barefoot Foundation, established in 1997, combines capital infrastructure with targeted academic support to improve student outcomes across vulnerable Colombian communities. In 2024 alone, its programs reached more than 28,000 students across 24 municipalities, which included opening a new 1,000-capacity facility in Cartagena. Alongside physical classrooms, the organization upgrades pedagogical standards by training thousands of educators to strengthen daily instruction.

Key points

  • Targeted community investments in infrastructure and teacher development can significantl…: Targeted community investments in infrastructure and teacher development can significantly outperform national rates for higher education enrollment.
  • Collaborative efforts with government ministries help tailor educational access to margin…: Collaborative efforts with government ministries help tailor educational access to marginalized populations, including Indigenous groups and migrant children.
  • Sustainable school improvements require pairing physical construction with culturally rel…: Sustainable school improvements require pairing physical construction with culturally relevant curricula and professional educator development.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Shakira's Barefoot Foundation has supported more than 224,000 children and young people in Colombia, helping expand access to education through school construction, teacher training and educational programmes. Founded by the Colombian singer in 1997, Fundación Pies Descalzos works with communities facing economic and social barriers to quality education. The organisation reports that 8 in 10 students graduating from its supported schools continue to higher education, compared with approximately four in 10 young people nationally. Its work also includes improving educational facilities in underserved areas, providing school supplies and supporting Indigenous communities.

Shakira's foundation focuses on education as a path out of inequality

Shakira established Fundación Pies Descalzos in 1997 to help children in Colombia access quality education. The organisation, also known as the Barefoot Foundation, focuses on children and young people in vulnerable communities, where financial difficulties and limited educational infrastructure can restrict opportunities.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on school construction, the foundation combines infrastructure projects with teacher training, educational support and programmes intended to help students continue their studies.

Its approach also involves working with public schools and local…

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