When the earth shook Chocó on August 10, it didn't just crack walls and topple roofs—it shattered the daily rhythm of thousands of families who already lived with the weight of abandonment. Now, a week later, the region is receiving an unexpected but powerful embrace: Shakira and American philanthropist Howard Graham Buffett walked through the damaged streets of Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, to see the destruction firsthand and to promise something concrete: ten new schools.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake left a trail of collapsed classrooms and damaged infrastructure across a department that has historically been one of Colombia's most neglected. For Shakira, who has long championed early childhood education through her foundation, the visit was personal. She stood alongside Buffett in front of the Institución Educativa Colegio Carrasquilla Industrial, where the cracks in the walls told a story of decades of underinvestment, now compounded by disaster.
Who is Howard Buffett, and why does Chocó matter to him?
Howard Graham Buffett is not just the son of Warren Buffett, though that lineage often precedes him. He has built his own reputation as a philanthropist focused on agriculture, conservation, and crisis response in some of the world's most fragile places. Born in Omaha in 1954, he chairs the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, one of the largest private charitable organizations in the United States, directing millions toward food security and emergency relief.
But his connection to Colombia runs deeper than a checkbook. In 2021, the Colombian government granted him citizenship by adoption, recognizing his investments in humanitarian demining with the Military Forces and agricultural projects in rural areas scarred by conflict. That history made his presence in Quibdó feel less like a celebrity cameo and more like a continuation of a long-term commitment.
During the visit, Buffett and Shakira announced a joint effort that goes beyond emergency aid. Their foundations, along with allies like Global Citizen and Live Nation, will fund the construction of ten new schools in Chocó and support the recovery of the Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, a key institution for the region's professional future.
Education as the path forward
For Shakira, the message was clear: this is not a one-time photo opportunity. "The work has only just begun," she told local media, emphasizing that they will stay until every child can return to a safe classroom. She acknowledged what many in Chocó have long known—that the department has been forgotten by central development plans, and that the earthquake only deepened a pre-existing crisis.
Her concern is that once the emergency headlines fade, the schools might remain in ruins, and children would be left without a place to learn. That fear is not unfounded. In past disasters, reconstruction has often been slow and uneven, especially in regions with weak institutional presence. By linking her foundation with Buffett's, Shakira is betting on a model that combines visibility with sustained funding.
The choice of Chocó is also symbolic. This Pacific coast department is rich in biodiversity and culture, yet it consistently ranks among the poorest in Colombia, with high rates of poverty and limited access to basic services. The earthquake, which also triggered aftershocks and widespread damage, has become a stark reminder of that inequality.
Other artists have also stepped up. J Balvin's foundation has been leading relief efforts, and a Miami benefit concert is bringing together Latino stars to raise funds. The response from the diaspora has been swift, but the long-term rebuilding will require sustained attention.
Shakira's visit with Buffett is a signal that this time, the world is watching. The question now is whether that attention will translate into lasting change for a region that has waited too long for progress. As she put it, "We have a historic debt with Chocó." The earthquake may have cracked the ground, but it also opened a window for solidarity—and for a chance to build something better.
